Ruto's Team To Take Govt To Court

The Kenya Kwanza Alliance has now said it is ready to take legal action against the government over its directive that locked the coalition out of staging its last mega rally at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday, August 6.

Speaking in a press conference at Deputy President William Ruto's Westlands Command Centre on Thursday, July 21, Director of DP Ruto's campaign secretariat, Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok trashed an order by Sports Kenya Director General Pius Metto captured in a statement that the stadium was already booked.

He noted that the coalition had already penned a binding agreement with the body after it had secured the grounds for the event and had even paid to use it for the rally, coming on the final day of nationwide campaigns.

Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok (centre) addressing a press conference at the UDA headquarters alongside the party's Secretary General Veronica Maina (right) and Communications Director Hussein Mohamed on May 5, 2022. /CAPITAL GROUP

"We have booked and are preparing for our last major rally on August 6, at Nyayo Stadium. This venue was booked on July 9, we signed a contract with the authority responsible for the stadium on July 12, and also received receipt of the payment on the same day.

"When we did this, no other political party had booked the grounds," said Nanok, seemingly mimicking sentiments by Ruto's Digital Strategist Dennis Itumbi that they had already booked the premises.

Nanok added that the coalition did not want to get into loggerheads with the body, noting that the ones who had booked the stadium for use before should utilise it while it focuses on other matters.

He said the coalition was ready to take the matter to court against the Ministry of Sports as they already have a signed contract which has not been cancelled.

Turning to their opponents, Azimio la Umoja, Nanok compelled the Raila Odinga-led coalition to produce evidence indicating when they had booked the stadium for leasing before Kenya Kwanza stepped in.

He further challenged the coalition to look for other grounds to host their mega rally, given that they have alternatives to choose from in the city.

"We want Azimio to show proof of when they booked the stadium because they don't have that proof. We want them to show the receipts; we are ready to share with you the details of the bookings we have done, the payments we have done, contracts that have been provided and we are ready to proceed with the arrangement we had intended," said Nanok.

"Let Azimio look for another venue, Nairobi is big, Kenya is big they can be able to take their rally elsewhere because we beat them at this and we are prepared to do that particular rally."

Sports Kenya Director General Pius Metto had addressed to United Democratic Alliance (UDA) secretary general Veronica Maina that the Nyayo Stadium, as well as the 60,000-seater Kasarani Stadium, was booked for between Friday, August 5 to Sunday, August 7.

An image of Kasarani Stadium during the Kip Keino classic on May 7, 2022. /MARVIN CHEGE.VIRALTEAKE

He added that both stadiums have been booked for peace concerts to be staged just before the elections week kicks off.

Both Azimio and the Kenya Kwanza coalition suddenly found themselves at loggerheads after revealing in separate announcements that they had secured the stadium for their rallies, creating a sense of worry among Nairobi residents on top of a standoff between the factions.