Sonko closes Uhuru Park

dennis kibet

October 12, 2017 3:43 PM

Uhuru Park is no longer accessible to the public.

The Nairobi City County headed by Governor Mike Sonko has closed the popular Uhuru Park.

Acting County Secretary Leboo Motintant said the grounds have been closed in preparation for Mashujaa Day celebrations which is scheduled to take place next week Friday on October 20.

According to the county government, Uhuru Park will be inaccessible to the public.

Read Also: Matiangi bans NASA anti-IEBC demos

The directive is likely to be hamper NASA's plans which has been using Uhuru Park as the epicentre of their demonstrations to push for electoral reforms.

On Wednesday, NASA leaders led their supporters in a procession in the city from Uhuru Park to Haile Selassie Avenue, Moi Avenue, and Kenyatta Avenue before coming back to Uhuru Park and then to the IEBC offices at Anniversary Towers.

Following NASA leader Raila Odinga's official withdrawal from the repeat elections scheduled for October 26 on Tuesday, the coalition announced it will step up their street protests to push for electoral reforms at the IEBC.

The opposition leaders announced that they will hold the street demonstrations daily from next week as opposed to three times a week which they had earlier declared.

However on Thursday, Acting Interior CS Fred Matiangi banned all anti-IEBC demonstrations.

Speaking on Thursday at Harambee House in Nairobi, Matiangi said the government had noted an escalation of lawlessness especially in Homa Bay, Kisumu, Siaya, Migori and Nairobi counties.

"In accordance with the law, due to the recent breach of peace as witnessed, the government will not allow any more demos," Matiangi stated.

He affirmed the government will not allow demonstration within the CBD in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

dennis kibet