Raila, Ruto Book Same Nairobi Venue For Final Rallies
The stadium has been used in recent months for high-profile campaign events
Marvin Chege 
Nairobi risks being turned into a major battleground as both Raila Odinga's Azimio la Umoja coalition and Deputy President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance booked Nyayo National Stadium for their final campaign rallies on the same day.
According to a press statement by Azimio Secretary-General Junet Mohammed on Tuesday, July 19, the coalition will hold its last campaign rally at the stadium on Saturday, August 6, the final day for campaigns across the country.
“The Azimio campaign team led by Raila Odinga and Martha Karua will hold its last official campaign meeting in Nairobi on 6th August 2022 at Nyayo Stadium,” Junet stated.
Raila Odinga during the launch of the Azimio manifesto alongside Martha Karua at Nyayo Stadium. /FILE
However, Ruto's Digital Strategist Dennis Itumbi claimed that the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) had booked the venue already, showing a contract dated July 12 as proof of evidence.
"The Azimio campaign team led by #babanamartha will hold its last official campaign meeting in Nairobi at the Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday, August 6," the statement indicated.
Junet did not provide evidence that Azimio had reserved the stadium with Itumbi following up his statement with an invoice paid to the managing organisation of the national stadium, Sports Kenya.
"Hire of the Nyayo National Stadium for a political rally as per proforma invoice number (SK/P1/399 Vol IV/18) amounting to Ksh1,508,000 plus a separate cheque of Ksh1 million refundable damage fee," read the contract in part.
Itumbi then accused President Uhuru Kenyatta of steering the two factions into a collision course by putting them in the same stadium.
"The Facts are simple. Hustler Nation booked, paid and got a contract to use Nyayo Stadium on August 6, 2022," he stated.
Itumbi added that Ruto would not back off and would proceed with preparations for the rally. Backing his sentiments was the director of Ruto’s presidential campaigns secretariat, Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok who accused Azimio of using crafty ways to secure the venue for that date.
“UDA Kenya Kwanza alliance booked and paid for Nyayo Stadium on 12 July 2022. Azimio using a back door via Homeboys to force the PS ministry of Sports to cancel the UDA Kenya Kwanza Alliance booking and confirm theirs.
"Homeboys purport to book both Nyayo stadium and Kasarani for prayers. What a fraud!” tweeted Nanok.
There are risks of a repeat of what happened at the Jacaranda Grounds not unless the stadium management intervenes on the issue.
The stadium has been used in recent months for high-profile campaign events ranging from the launch of the Azimio manifesto to Ruto hosting the Kenya Kwanza women's guild, prayers and the youth charter at the stadium.
The alternate stadium, the Kasarani Stadium with a capacity of 60,000 people, has been used during Raila's announcement in December 2021 that he would vie for president and during the launch of the Kenya Kwanza manifesto on Thursday, June 30.
Despite having an inferior capacity to Kasarani at 45,000, politicians prefer the Nyayo Stadium, sandwiched between Aerodrome Road, Lang'ata Road and Uhuru Highway due to the fact that it is very easy to access from all corners, including the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).
An aerial view of Nyayo National Stadium. /FILE
