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Nasa MPs vow to lead JKIA march for Raila welcome

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Police officers at Kamukunji grounds where Nasa planned to hold a rally yesterday before it was stopped over security concerns. PHOTO | anthony omuya

National Super Alliance (Nasa) leaders have maintained that they will mobilise 1.5 million supporters to march to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Friday morning to welcome their leader Raila Odinga who has been on a 10-day visit to the United States.

Mr Odinga is expected to jet in the country Friday after the visit where he held a series of meetings with US Congress committees on the repeat presidential election which he withdrew from citing lack of electoral reforms and a pre-determined outcome.

Nasa National Coordinating Committee co-chairman James Orengo Thursday said the plan to welcome Mr Odinga at JKIA was still on despite a police warning that such a move would undermine security.

“The airport is a public facility built by our taxpayers, nobody can prevent us and our supporters from accessing it any time. Let our supporters come out in millions and send a statement to Jubilee that the people’s president has arrived,” Mr Orengo said Thursday outside the airport.

“We will resist this form of dictatorship that the government wants to subject us to, no amount of force will stop us from welcoming our leader. Jubilee supporters did it before while welcoming President Uhuru Kenyatta from the Hague and it is now our turn.”

The Siaya senator said they will cooperate with the police.

“All the Nasa MPs, MCAs and millions of supporters will be at the airport and will be checked just like any other Kenyan and therefore we expect total cooperation from the police,” Mr Orengo said.

The Nasa leaders were Thursday blocked from accessing JKIA where they had gone to issue a Press statement on Mr Odinga’s arrival and were forced to address the media outside the facility.

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Leaders who were blocked by GSU officers were George Khaniri, Samuel Atandi, Paul Ongili, Gladys Wanga, Florence Mutua, Otiende Amolo, James Nyikal, and Esther Passaris. According to a Nasa plan, upon landing, Mr Odinga’s entourage will head for Uhuru Park through Outer Ring, Jogoo, Landhies, Haile Selassie roads and Harambee Avenue.

Zipporah Waweru, the OCPD Airport Police Station, said airports across the world are protected areas and therefore cannot allow any Press conference or gathering that could pose a security threat.

“This is a restricted area, political leaders have hotels and their offices where they can hold Press conferences,” Mrs Waweru said.

Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet on Wednesday warned the coalition against matching to the JKIA, saying “the move will undermine security.”