Showdown looms at Uhuru Park on Nasa D-Day
A showdown is looming between Nairobi Business Community and supporters of Nasa after the former vowed to monitor activities at Uhuru Park, the planned venue of the swearing in of Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka.
Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria termed the planned swearing in by Nasa as ‘a broad daylight coup’ and dared Raila Odinga to make good his plans of oath taking.
“If Raila Odinga is a man let him come here tomorrow (Tuesday) to be sworn in and we end this matter once for all. Tumalizane hapa Kenya basi. Do not say the excuse was the business community. Come here and hold that Bible if you are a man,” said Mr Kuria.
Mr Kuria, however, said that they will not hold their planned circumcision ceremony at the venue as they had slated after meeting Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and also being talked out of the idea by Agikuyu elders.
“We were supposed to hold a circumcision ceremony here on Tuesday but now we have put it off after our elders reached out to us to stop it and also Governor Sonko told us to allow him go on with renovations,” he said.
Nairobi Business Community chairman Mr William Kamau echoed Mr Kuria’s remarks saying that they will not allow supporters of the opposition to disrupt or destroy their businesses in Nairobi.
TRADITIONAL RITES
“Anybody coming here to hold demonstrations or create disturbance targeting our businesses, my friend, it will be a day of meeting you guys. You call yourself Kenyans, tomorrow (Tuesday) you will meet other Kenyans,” said Mr Kamau.
He said that they would do all it takes to protect their businesses in the capital city while also urging the government to offer more security.
“Our businesses must be protected and I hope the government will also do something to that effect. Those coming to work should not worry as the business community will protect you,” he said.
The group, accompanied by elders, carried out traditional rites and a cleansing exercise at Uhuru Park on Monday.
They slaughtered a goat, planted a small banana and surrounded the ground with other cultural paraphernalia.
Mr Kamau explained that the ceremony held at Uhuru Park was to ensure that peace prevails at the grounds on Tuesday and that there is no bloodletting.
“We were cleansing this place to ensure there is peace here and this is a ceremony according to our culture to ensure that there is no blood that is going to be spilt here,” he said.