NAIROBI, Kenya, June 19 (Xinhua) — Embakasi East MP Babu Owino canceled a planned prayer meeting at Nairobi’s Jacaranda grounds on Sunday, amid rising concern about the status of a Kenya Kwanza rally.
In an apparent attempt to avert a fight, Owino advised his supporters to stay away from the venue, stating that he was doing so for the sake of peace.
“I had booked Jacaranda Grounds for my function today and notified the police while Ruto booked the same venue on the same day but in 2021 as per their notification letter. I have full rights to use this ground today but let my People stay at home because we love peace,” Owino said.
Owino posted a document saying that he had written to the Embakasi OCPD on June 15, 2022, requesting that the grounds be reserved for a prayer peace meeting.
According to Owino, the meeting was held to honor “several of my constituents who were stabbed and were seriously injured during Ruto’s last political event in my constituency.”
The Kenya Kwanza team, on the other hand, stated that it had reversed the ruling after paying a Sh30,000 fee.
On Sunday, Ruto took to Twitter to inform his fans that their gathering at the grounds will continue.
“The Kenya Kwanza fraternity and the entire hustler nation wishes a blessed Sunday to all na tukutane Jacaranda after church,” he said.
In order to avoid potential disorder, anti-riot police officers were deployed to the grounds in vehicles in the early hours of Sunday.
Later, the police presence was reduced.