Cord still to hold Madaraka Day rally at Uhuru Park - Orengo

Cord adamant on Madaraka Day politcal rally

What you need to know:

  • The senator said the Wednesday Cord function will be peaceful, urging Kenyans to show up in numbers.

  • Cord team has also decided to conduct a mass funeral service in Kisumu on Thursday “to pray” for Kenyans shot dead by police in Kisumu and Siaya counties.
  • Three people were killed during the countrywide protests held on Monday.

The Cord coalition has rubbished claims that a religious group had booked Uhuru Park on Madaraka Day, maintaining that they had the county government’s blessings to convene there.

In a press briefing at the Capitol Hill on Saturday afternoon, Siaya Senator James Orengo said Cord principals will “lead Kenyans” in celebrating Madaraka Day on Wednesday as earlier announced.

Mr Orengo accused the police and the Jubilee government of trying to cause confusion by releasing a statement saying the grounds had been reserved for the Prayers Beyond Boundaries Ministries.

“It is only the county government that can give out property or grounds like Uhuru Park, which are part of their assets. I think the police were trying to confuse everybody that some other people had been given that particular ground for celebrations or for services,” he said.

“We think that it is people in Jubilee, having heard that we are going to have a meeting there, who were trying to create this confusion,” added Mr Orengo.

The senator said the Wednesday Cord function will be peaceful, urging Kenyans to show up in numbers.

The fact that there will not be any other state-led function in Nairobi, he said, was the more assurance that the function will be calm.

“During the presidency of Daniel arap Moi”, Mr Orengo said, “at one time … we were able to hold Jamhuri Day celebrations at Kamkunji Grounds while Moi as President was holding his own event at the Nyayo Stadium. And there was no problem about that.”

He added: “It should not be now turned around as if we are holding this meeting for any other reason other than celebrating this great day for Kenya … There is no law that will stop anybody from having any activity on Madaraka Day, and for that matter on any other national day.”

MASS FUNERAL SERVICE

And in a development that could mean a more heated week politically, the Cord team has decided to conduct a mass funeral service in Kisumu on Thursday “to pray” for Kenyans shot dead by police in Kisumu and Siaya counties during the last anti-IEBC demonstrations.

Mr Orengo said the function will be led by the clergy and that leaders from all over the country had pledged to attend.

“Cord has made a decision together with our friends and partners to have a mass funeral service at Kirembe Grounds near the Kisumu International Airport, where church leaders are going to preside over a funeral service for those who died and also in solidarity with others who were injured,” said Mr Orengo.

He added: “We will be in Kisumu to mourn our youths who were killed in Kisumu and Siaya. There was also a sister of ours who was shot in the head in Siaya. We shall bring their bodies at Kirembe Grounds, near the Kisumu Airport, and we shall be led by religious leaders and leaders from all over Kenya.”

Three people were killed during the countrywide protests held on Monday.