NASA leader Raila Odinga on Wednesday forced to make last minute security changes during his much publicised visit to the United States.
Odinga arrived in Washington DC on Wednesday morning after which he held private meeting House and Senate Congressional Committee official. He is reported to have briefed the officials on the current political situation in Kenya.
The former Prime Minister was also expected to deliver a keynote speech on Thursday at 9.30am DC time (about 5.30pm Kenyan time).
However, on Wednesday night, Odinga’s handlers learnt that a group of Jubilee supporters was planning on holding protests outside the headquarters of Center for Strategic and International Studies where the keynote speech was scheduled to take place.
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The NASA team had to make frantic calls, requesting all NASA supporters across the United States to make it to DC and counter the Jubilee supporters.
A similar incident had happened in London where Jubilee supporters protested as Odinga delivered a speech at Chatham House.
“Nasarites, come out in large numbers to welcome Baba and also to counter Jubilee supporters ...,” a message sent out on a NASA WhatsApp read in part.
By the time of publishing this article, DC was still asleep and it remains to be seen how the NASA leader’s address will go on.
However, apart from the address, the Opposition chief will have a busy schedule where he will hold meetings with various stakeholders.
On Friday, Odinga will be Cococabana Bar and Grill in Hyattsville, Maryland where his supporters between 6 and 8pm.
On Saturday afternoon, he will head to St Patrick’s High School in New Jersey where he will have a town hall meeting with Kenyans in the US. He will later preside over a Sh10, 000 dinner dance organised by the NASA US team.