The government has banned any kind rally at the historic Uhuru Park and Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, just hours after City Hall gave CORD the greenlight to use Uhuru Park for its Madaraka Day meeting, setting the stage for a bloody clash between police and the opposition.
Government spokesman Eric Kiraithe on Monday said the National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC) reached a decision that the opposition rally planned for Uhuru Park on June 1 as well as a prayer meeting by evangelist Lucy wa Ngunjiri pose a serious security threat to the country.
“This morning the National Security Advisory Committee met to deliberate the security threat emanating from the double booking of Uhuru Park by Cord and another religious body. After lengthy deliberations, the NSAC noted that the two incidents have taken dangerous political dimensions,” Mr Kiraithe said.
“As a result, NSAC cancelled the two meetings and also decided that Uhuru Park and Nyayo Stadium will remain closed on June 1,” he added.
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Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORDP)had clashed with evangelist Lucy wa Ngunjiri over the venue as both claimed they had been cleared to have their rallies at the venue on June 1.
The opposition’s rally was seen as Madaka Day celebrations parallel the official one which President Uhuru Kenyatta will lead the nation in marking at Nakuru’s Afraha Stadium. It is the first time the national day will be celebrated out of Nairobi.
The Nairobi County government today ended confusion surrounding the use of Uhuru Park grounds on June 1 after county Secretary Robert Ayisi said they had written to the Christian organisation revoking the permit for the planned prayers on June 1.
Dr Ayisi, speaking in his office, said the coalition wrote on May 22 requesting to have the venue, which City Hall granted on May 25 after deliberations by the county. The Prayers Beyond Boundaries Ministries was set to start its programme on Tuesday, a day to Madaraka Day.
Cord is or has not planning a coup,that was propaganda of the highest order.