Ruto vows to hold rally at Jacaranda despite heavy police presence
Deputy President William Ruto maintains he will host a political rally at the Jacaranda grounds in Nairobi on Sunday.
The Kenya Kwanza fraternity and the entire hustler nation wishes a blessed Sunday to all na tukutane Jacaranda after church.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) June 19, 2022
This despite heavy police presence in the area on the day of the event amid suggestions the venue has also been booked by a rival political faction led by area MP Babu Owino.
Ruto’s team maintains, in a series on messages on social media led by blogger Dennis Itumbi, that it had booked the grounds by paying Sh30,000 and a receipt handed over for the same.
The payment was reportedly done by Francis Mureithi, as aspirant for the Embakassi East parliamentary seat.
The police deployment was done as early as 4am with about 200 officers spotted at the venue.
Babu Owino had earlier vowed to have his meeting at the venue.
I had booked Jacaranda Grounds for my function today and notified the police while Ruto booked the same venue on the same day but in 2021 as per their notification letter.I have full rights to use this ground today but let my People stay at home coz we love peace. pic.twitter.com/BulesVp24y
— Babu Owino (@HEBabuOwino) June 19, 2022
He later appeared to change his mind and urged his supporters to keep off the venue.
Among the leaders expected to attend the event is Nairobi gubernatorial aspirant Johnson Sakaja whose academic credentials have been questioned in the recent past.
“Kenya Kwanza booked and paid for the Jacaranda grounds for our rally. We won’t buckle at the intimidation of the State. We have a right to assemble. Our resolve for Nairobi and Kenya is clear and unstoppable. Let’s meet at Jacaranda,” said Sakaja.
Ruto’s last rally at the event was punctuated by violence with police firing teargas cannisters in the area. No one was reported injured.