Luke Awich and Monica Kagia
A confrontation looms between Cord and Jubilee this Wednesday over the use of Uhuru Park as MPs from both coalitions vowed mobilise supporters to converge at the venue for this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations.
Yesterday Nairobi Jubilee legislators, led by Starehe MP Maina Kamanda, said they will rally their supporters to the historic grounds for the Prayers Beyond Boundaries Ministries crusade.
Cord has also vowed it will hold a major rally at the facility having been made available to them by the Nairobi City County.
Speaking in Mombasa yesterday, Cord leader Raila Odinga said his rally is meant to preach peace and unity to Kenyans, adding there is no need of anyone reading sabotage from it.
“Madaraka Day is the day Kenya gained self-governance. Why should someone try to interrupt us practising our independence in an independent country? We are only planning to share with Kenyans what we believe will move this country forward,” said Raila while calling on the government to use the day to unite people of Kenya, preach peace, justice and truth.
He said dialogue is a way of bringing political leaders together and work for the people of Kenya.
He said during their parallel rally, there should be no form of harassment or intimidation from the police.
In Nairobi, Kamanda told Raila to respect God by leaving the venue for prayer crusade and identify another venue for his rally.
National function
“Since Kenya attained independence, we have never had problems with preparation of national holidays. No opposition leader has ever called a parallel Madaraka Day. That is like announcing yourself the President of Kenya,” said Kamanda.
Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru added they will not sit and watch as Cord provokes all institutions, including the IEBC, Judiciary and the Church.
He accused Raila of pushing for a power-sharing deal with President Uhuru Kenyatta through unorthodox means. “It is very unfortunate when you find Opposition cheapening such an important national function as Madaraka Day. That is irresponsible, unpatriotic and ungodly.”
Cord, led by Raila, has been calling on their support base to turn-up in large numbers for a rally at Uhuru Park on Wednesday despite police maintaining the facility will be unavailable to Cord.
Televangelist Lucy Wangunjiri, the convenor of the prayer rally, has also maintained that her event will be on, having paid the requisite booking fee.
But on Saturday, Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero said the county had earlier booked the facility for use by the Opposition.
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