Thousands throng city as ‘Baba’ jets back

Song, drumbeats and dance washed over parts of Nairobi on Saturday as Cord leader Raila Odinga returned home after a two-month stay in the United States.

The city came to a standstill and the atmosphere was easily reminiscent of campaigns witnessed a few days to the March 4 General Election last year, as Cord supporters thronged Uhuru Park to welcome their leader home.

The crowd was charged as it impatiently waited for Baba – as his supporters fondly refer to him – to address them.

The hashtag #BabaWhileYouWereAway went viral on social media sites in the last week as Kenyans took to Twitter with witty comments about his return and what they thought the Opposition leader should address when he returned.

And Mr Odinga would later use the punchline, “Baba while you were away” as he delivered his address, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Most of the leaders who spoke before Mr Odinga had a difficult time addressing the crowd, save for Ford-Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula and Wiper boss Kalonzo Musyoka. Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang’s popular Bado Mapambano (The struggle continues) chorus came in handy in calming the excited crowd.

The barrier erected to keep the multitudes away from the dais was torn down as the masses surged to get a closer view of Mr Odinga.

When Mr Odinga finally took to the podium, every word he uttered was greeted by “Ndio Baba” (Yes Baba) shouts.

The ululation and cheers lasted for close to five minutes before he could utter a single word, which was then followed by another round of ululation.

“I bring greetings from US President Barack Obama Jnr,” he said as the crowd cheered.

Thousands were clad in party colours with Orange caps adorning heads and Wiper umbrellas keeping the rays of the scorching sun at bay.

“While I was away, the Attorney-General became a mortician, Muslims have been harassed but I have returned now. Where there is a will there is a way and I can assure you that we have a solution to all the problems this country is facing,” Mr Odinga said, in reference to the frenzy on social media as his supporters sought to update him about things that had happened while he was out of  the country.

Apart from police who were screening people getting to the venue, Cord had made separate security arrangements.

Heavily built men who wore dark glasses hovered all over the place and those who came late were either turned away or forced to watch proceedings from the sidelines.

The supporters had began trooping into the city as early as 6 a.m. and to make it known that it was their day, they went around the central business district to remind all and sundry that Baba was just about to land. This nearly led to an altercation with anti-riot police along Uhuru Highway when they temporarily blocked traffic flow.

“We have a duty as ODM party members to keep vigil as we wait for Baba,” said Kennedy Lubanga, a supporter. He told the Sunday Nation that he travelled from Busia on Thursday to witness the occasion.
“This to us is a national holiday,” another supporter said.

The Tom Mboya statue was one of the converging points in town where supporters were singing and dancing to various traditional tunes as early as 7 a.m.

“To us, we were left under the care of a harsh foster father. Our joy is beyond comprehension and we thank God for bringing him back safely,” one supporter enthused.

Traffic quickly built up in the city for motorists who ventured out. Kenyatta Avenue was closed by police to motorists except those carrying people headed to the rally.

But most private motorists avoided town while some businesses closed shop for fear of looting.

The rally was not without incidents, however. At one point, a plainclothes policeman had his shirt torn when he was found standing next to the dais.

It took the intervention of Mr Odinga’s son, Fidel, to save the officer, even though he had been beaten as his colleagues watched helplessly.