NASA Vows to Defy Police Warning to Hold Raila's Swearing-in at Uhuru Park

National Super Alliance (Nasa) has vowed to continue with the swearing in of its leaders Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka at Uhuru Park grounds on Tuesday despite police declaring the venue a no-go zone.

In a press briefing on Sunday, Nairobi County police commander Japhet Koome categorical stated that no meeting will take place at the Uhuru Park or any other venue within Nairobi central business district.

“I’m reading on the press that so and so will be at Uhuru Park, which I’m not likely to allow because if I allow there will be a confrontation and people will be injured. You have heard several groups want to use Uhuru Park on the same day. Tell them we love this city and we will guard it jealously. We will not allow breach of peace,” said Koome.

He added: “Nobody will be at Uhuru Park because I must protect everybody. If I allow people to go there and they injure one another I will have slept on the job."

However, in a rejoinder Orange Democratic Movement chairman and minority leader in the National Assembly John Mbadi vowed that Nasa will ignore the warning by police and stage the ceremony at Uhuru Park.

“The police are being misused by Jubilee and that is why we want a change in leadership.It is impunity of the highest order for the police to interfere with us,” Mr Mbadi said.

Speaking to KTN News on Monday morning, Nasa Chief Executive Officer Norman Magaya maintained that the coalition will not be coerced to shift the venue from Uhuru Park.

"We have no intention of changing our venue the only option is Uhuru Park...When it comes to the swearing in, we are doing everything as set out in the constitution because as I said we are swearing in the pres. of the republic of Kenya."

" The level of preparation undertaken for the swearing in may perhaps take around 500,000 police officers to clamp down on such a gathering, we expect our supporters to turn up in their numbers," Magaya added.