LECTURE: Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga speaks on ?The Awakening African Lion? at Wilson School in Princeton, New Jersey.
EVENT PLANNERS: Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo, Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula, former deputy speaker Farah Maalim and Senator James Orengo near KICC on Wednesday. Photo/ Patrick Vidija
SENIOR police officers were last evening strategizing on securing the city ahead of the arrival of opposition leader Raila Odinga tomorrow and Madaraka Day celebrations on Sunday.
The police bosses decided to deploy 10,000 officers across the city to ensure that Cord has adequate security from the airport to Uhuru Park, where they will hold a rally to welcome their leader.
The officers will be in both plainclothes and uniform and will be strategically stationed at various points from the airport and along Outer Ring, Jogoo and Landhies roads, the route the Cord procession is expected to follow.
Raila has been away in the US for two-and-a-half months and on his way back stopped over in Dubai with his wife Ida.
Yesterday senior police officers told the Star the massive security deployment will be drawn from the regular police, administration police, National Youth Service and Kenya Wildlife Service. Another lot of officers will be transported into Nairobi to beef up the numbers.
"With the recent attacks we have suffered as a country we cannot afford to take chances, considering that Raila is expected to attract big crowds from JKIA to the city centre and the President too will be addressing thousands of Kenyans at Nyayo Stadium the following day.
"Apart from securing those in his convoy we will also be securing private property," said a police officer involved in planning for both events.
Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo had earlier banned all political rallies nationwide, but buckled under pressure from Cord and Jubilee leaders who separately vowed to defy his order.
According to police sources, both Uhuru Park and Nyayo Stadium will be cleared today ahead of tomorrow's and Sunday's respective functions.
All of those who will attend Raila's homecoming rally and the Madaraka Day celebrations will be screened before entering the venues.
Armed plainclothes officers will be planted in the crowds to deal with any insecurity issues. All entry points to the two venues will be manned while the rest of the security officers will be deployed across the city.
Besides Cord, Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko has announced that he will hold a rally in Soweto on Saturday.
"I have a medical camp and thereafter a rally in Soweto," said Sonko yesterday.
Yesterday Cord leaders were busy putting the final touches on their plans to welcome Raila, with various groups meeting to plan, among other things, security arrangements
As these preparations were going on, many Kenyans were busy on social media briefing Raila on what has happened while he was away. By 5pm the hash tag #WhileYouWereAway on Twitter had 70,100 comments, with all manner of takes on topical issues (See page 7).
Nakumatt and Chase Bank were among companies that joined the hash tag to advertise their products and services.
On the streets of Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa, enterprising Kenyans saw a business opportunity by printing budges, T-shirts and caps with all manner of messages, ranging from Welcome Back Home Baba to We Missed You, and While You Were Away Baba.
It is understood that Raila has been reading the tweeted comments and will respond to some of the issues raised on Facebook and Twitter on Saturday.
Cord supporters from Coast, Rift Valley, Western and Nyanza provinces were also planning to travel to Nairobi this morning ahead of tomorrow's rally.
No comments:
Post a Comment