Mr Odinga seen here on arrival at Dubai on his way to Nairobi, Kenya. Photo/COURTESY
NAIROBI, Kenya May 30 – Coalition for Reforms and Democracy leaders led by former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka have confirmed that preparations are complete for Saturday’s homecoming rally for CORD leader Raila Odinga.
Briefing the media on the preparations for the event, Musyoka appealed for calm and urged the coalition’s supporters to maintain peace and keep off the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport due to security and logistical challenges.
Only MPs and other dignitaries will be allowed at the airport.
“There are those who dismissed our rally. We have heard them asking… what next after tomorrow? They are saying they will come and talk and leave. We want to tell them tomorrow we shall unveil a programme of action,” Musyoka said.
Odinga is returning to the country from the United States where he has been on a sabbatical for three months.
Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetang’ula and Siaya Senator James Orengo added that CORD’s nationwide rallies are meant to put pressure on the Government to deliver on its pre-election promises.
The CORD leaders pledged the rally shall concentrate on discussions that will help Kenya progress.
“Tomorrow, we will be able to tell Kenyans the direction we want them to take. We shall be peaceful, we shall be uncompromising, we shall be straight and we shall be steady with the people of Kenya,” said Wetang’ula.
“A lot of people are spreading a lot of propaganda saying that we are out to overthrow the government; as we stand here we bear no arms and we are not recruiting an army,” Orengo told a reporters at Uhuru Park.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale announced that his association with the opposition coalition signalled a shift in political thinking in the western part of country which split its vote between Odinga, UDF’s Musalia Mudavadi and President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“When we went to the last polls, as Khalwale we were not with CORD but my presence here means that the ground has shifted.”
On Saturday, Musyoka and Wetang’ula will lead politicians in receiving Odinga, who is expected to arrive at midday.
The CORD leader and his entourage will ride through parts of the city from Outering, Jogoo, Haile Selassie and Moi Avenue to Uhuru Park where he will address his supporters.
The Uhuru Park rally had initially been cancelled by Inspector General David Kimaiyo over what he termed as security concerns.
However after a meeting with CORD leaders, the IG lifted the ban but on condition that the party observes peace.
Police also promised that sufficient security will be provided during the event.
The coalition on Friday flagged off a fleet of hired buses to ferry its supporters to Nairobi to attend the rally.
The buses will ferry supporters from Coast and Western Kenya regions, where the CORD has a huge following.
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