THANK YOU: Mathare parliamentary aspirant Steven Kariuki receives the nomination certificate from Cord leaders Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang?ula at Orange House in Nairobi yesterday.
THE Government is in a state of high alert over the Saba Saba rally by Opposition leader Raila Odinga. Multiple sources told the Star yesterday the security organs are not sure what Raila is up to on Monday next week if he is not allowed to dialogue with the Government on his own terms.
"These demands for dialogue are not being made in good faith, especially because we are being told that there will be mass protests and a complete shutdown if there is no dialogue by then," said a senior security official.
But Raila, who is leader of both ODM and Cord, yesterday sought to allay heightening fears of chaos and lawlessness at or after the Saba Saba rally. “I wanted to underscore that Saba Saba is on and that we want it to be very peaceful.
“Everybody who is coming will come marching in a very peaceful manner. We don't expect any problems,” Raila said at Orange House, Nairobi. Raila's reassurance over the controversial meeting comes just days after the Government accused the Opposition of recruiting members of the outlawed criminal gangs MRC and Mungiki to topple President Uhuru Kenyatta's regime.
It is understood that the Government is pulling out all the stops, including the prospect of handling opposition leaders roughly, to ensure that there is law and order on the day and after.
Raila has given President Uhuru until Sunday the 6th to hold talks with the Opposition over a number of pressing national issues, failing which he will call for mass action.
In an interview published in the Daily Nation yesterday, Raila hinted that the country should brace itself for a repeat of the mass action that eventually forced then President Daniel wrap Moi to accept multi-party democracy in 1990.
"On Monday, people are coming to demand their rights. It will be a strong demonstration that Kenyans are concerned with the latest developments and the danger they pose for the future," he was quoted as saying.
Cord will then implement resolutions reached at the rally. "This is the reason why we are not taking anything for granted. How will Cord implement these resolutions, considering that they are not in power? There is a government in place and it will deal with anyone breaking the law accordingly," warned Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku yesterday.
Accompanied by Cord Co-Principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang'ula, Raila yesterday insisted that the Government must provide security to all Kenyans who will attend the rally and announced they will issue a substantive statement today regarding the arrangements for what is being billed as a mega rally.
Fears of mass action on the day have sent shivers among investors, some of whom have began anticipating turmoil. The Star has established that an international bank has begun booking hotels for their staff around their work area to avoid interruption of their services on July 7.
The anxiety was sparked by chilling remarks by Lenku to the effect that Cord was recruiting the outlawed Mombasa Republican Council, a separatist movement, and the Mungiki sect to plunge the country into chaos.
“We can see the Opposition beginning to recruit the Mungiki again and we are not afraid to say it. They are recruiting the Mungiki to advance a political cause,” the minister said on Sunday, speaking to a church congregation.
Speaking after presenting a nomination certificate to ODM's Mathare parliamentary by-election candidate Stephen Kariuki, Raila also told off Cord leaders who have opposed the rally.
Governors Alfred Mutua (Machakos) and Evans Kidero (Nairobi) are among key leaders from the Coalition who have broken ranks with it regarding the rally.
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