Why police have cancelled NASA's crucial rally at last minute
All Nasa leaders were set to attend for a major announcement.
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Nairobi City County police commander Mr Japheth Koome on Sunday outlawed NASA's rally at last minute, even as the team prepared to use the rally for a key coalition’s announcement.
Mr Koome said that the would-be gathering was against the Public Order Act, prompting him to outlaw the meeting.
“The law states clearly that anybody who has intention to have a public gathering must notify the local OCS and tell him/her where you will have your meeting so that police can provide you with security. Why do you (NASA) want to break the law,” said Koome.
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On Sunday, the Nasa team was slated to hold a rally at Jacaranda Grounds in Nairobi to further push the opposition message before Mr Odinga jets back from United States, where he has been holding talks for a week.
In the meeting, the team was expected to give details of the effects of the recent economic boycott onslaught and the People's Assembly creation roadmap. The team, Mr Muthama said in a press briefing in Nairobi, would be instrumental in giving more information on the return of Mr Odinga from the US.
"We will tell them more on the date of Raila's return and how we will receive him as he lands from the US," Mr Muthama said.
On his part earlier, Nasa leader and ANC leader Mr Musalia Mudavadi quipped that Mr Uhuru’s presidency – if he will be sworn in – would be revoked through a people’s assembly.
“We do not recognise the elections of August 8 and October 26. We want a new constitutional arrangement, electoral justice and respect for every vote cast,” Mr Mudavadi told mourners at funeral gathering in Vihiga County.
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This is not the first time a meeting organised by National Super Alliance Movement. Last month, Nairobi City County blocked momentarily a rally that was organised by Nasa presidential candidate Mr Raila Odinga. Mr Odinga was to use the rally for his major political announcement, which was just a day to the repeat polls on October 26.
The city County government argued that the National Super Alliance team did not make an official booking of the venue and has directed that the police should seal off the venue with immediate effect.
Mr Sonko through a statement requested the Nairobi County Police Commander Japheth Koome to secure the historic park.
“It has come to my attention that the National Super Alliance (Nasa) leaders plan to use Uhuru Park Grounds today for a political meeting. However, records at City Hall show that they have not followed the procedures to secure the said grounds for their meeting,” read Governor Sonko’s statement.
Mr Sonko had said that no meeting would be allowed of whatever nature at Uhuru Park Wednesday without express authority and approval from his government. The governor added that the police should secure the grounds in a bid to keep off the opposition from holding the rally.
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