Crowd asks for more than declarations

Most political rallies end with the head of the party, or in this case the coalition, declaring the way forward.

Similarly, before an election there is usually a sustained appeal to voters to turn up in large numbers and vote. For the last few months, a visitor in Kenya could easily have mistaken the heightened political activity for an electioneering period.

After former Prime Minister and Cord leader Raila Odinga returned from the United States on May 31, he gave an ultimatum to the Jubilee Government to call a national dialogue to address issues affecting the people.

However, President Kenyatta declined to give in to the demands, and on Monday, Mr Odinga and Cord principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula met a legion of their supporters at Uhuru Park to decide their next move.

When the leaders took to the stage shortly after their arrival at 3.40pm, there was high expectation that they would declare their intentions immediately.

However, the master of ceremony, Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, surprised the crowd when he said there was going to be a declaration.

This appeared to disappoint the people who had been waiting for the leaders as they listened to invigorating reggae tunes, fiery speeches by men and women representing the people. MPs and senators also worked up the people.

By the time the leaders of ODM, Wiper and Ford Kenya arrived in their matching white shirts inscribed “Okoa Kenya” and “One People One Nation,” every call of Cord was greeted with State House. A forest of hands pointed towards the house on the hill.

It was about one-and-a-half hours later when senators Boni Khalwale, Omar Hassan, accompanied by Rosemary Kariuki, the daughter of the outspoken post-independence politician JM Kariuki finally stood up to read the 13-point Saba Saba Declaration.

Political rallies in Kenya often look like large, open-air parties and this one was no exception.

The supporters had begun streaming in quite early and were met at every entrance to the historic park by lines of sinewy-looking men and women from the National Youth Service who frisked everyone.

Armed Regular and the Administration Police, the Kenya Prison Service and the General Service Unit officers stood on guard.

Closer to the park, the coalition’s own security, some in the famous “black suits” and others in orange tracksuits, kept watch and prevented unwanted people from getting onto the stage.

STRING OF 'ORANGES'

In the crowd and readily posing for the cameras was Mr Nicholas Owino, who attends Mr Odinga’s rallies with a string of “oranges” forming his headgear and necklace. He was dressed in orange from head to toe and accompanied by a woman adorned in similar colour.

The crowd thought that the NYS officers would go slow on frisking, but they were wrong.

When they got tired of waiting on queues, the people eventually forced their way through into the park. One Japheth Otieno was not lucky as he suffered cuts on his head and blood oozed from his head.