Showdown looms at Uhuru Park ‘prayer meetings’

By Steve MkawaleODM leaders have told Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto to stop blaming Prime Minister Raila Odinga for their woes and instead concentrate on building defence for the charges facing them.
Led by Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, eight MPs told a prayer meeting for victims of the post-election violence at Kamukunji Grounds, Nairobi, Saturday that the Ocampo Six should not be allowed to hold a rally scheduled for Uhuru Park on Monday.
He said there was no point to rush judicial and the police reforms.
"The reforms should not be done in a rush to please the United Nations Security Council or so that we can fulfil certain conditionality. We have to build institution that will serve Kenyans for a long time," said DPM.
He claimed the party was aware that some of the suspects were trying to provoke Kenyans to violence through hate speeches. Mudavadi called for resettlement of internally displaced people and reconciliation of people. Lands Minister James Orengo said the suspects brought shame to the country and should not be allowed to hold a home-coming meeting at Uhuru Park.
"They are not heroes, they have ashamed our country and by trying to pretend to be heroes is a disgrace to those who fought for independence and other who agitated for the second liberation," said the minister. He suggested Uhuru, Muthaura and Ali be suspended from their offices and receive half pay until are cleared by the ICC.
Margaret Wanjiru, and other leaders called for healing and reconciliation. She said the ODM and other like-minded MPs would embark on prayer meetings countrywide.
They would congregate at Uhuru Park on Monday for another prayer meeting that is likely to coincide with the ‘welcome’ function for the ‘Ocampo six.’ Ongoro and Shebesh urged the youth not be swayed with money to attend the Uhuru Park meeting.
"We want to assure them that Nairobi has its owners and we will meet there on Monday," said Ongoro. Shebesh, a ODM nominated MP, urged the youth to turn up in large numbers for the ‘parallel ’ prayer meeting.