The Kenya Kwanza Alliance presidential candidate William Ruto has a reason to smile after the Nairobi High Court issued orders, allowing him to hold his grand finale rally on Saturday at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.
Justice Joseph Sergon issued a temporary order barring the government from withdrawing the availability of the stadium to UDA pending the interpartes hearing of a case filed on August 1, 2022, by UDA secretary general Veronica Maina.
“In the meantime, an interim order is granted suspending the implementation by the defendant/respondent by itself, its servants, employees, agents, successors, assignees or anyone acting or claiming through or under the defendant/respondent of the decision contained in the letter dated July 20, 2022, withdrawing the availability of the suit premises to the applicant on July 6, 2022, pending the interpartes hearing of the aforesaid motion,” the order partly read.
Sergon said he had considered the facts in the affidavit Maina swore and filed supporting the motion dated August 1, 2022, and got convinced the motion was urgent.
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"I have considered the facts deponed in the affidavit sworn by Veronica Maina and filed in support of the motion dated August 1, 2022. I am convinced the aforesaid motion is urgent," Sergon said.
The motion is fixed for interpartes hearing on August 3, 2022.
Kenya Kwanza and the Raila Odinga-led Azimio la Umoja One Kenya were embroiled in a tussle over the use of Nyayo Stadium for their last rallies on Saturday.
In a statement the Azimio coalition’s Secretary General Junet Mohamed issued, Raila Odinga and Martha Karua were set to hold their final political rally in Nairobi at the Nyayo Stadium.
“The Azimio campaign team, led by Baba na Martha, will hold its last official campaign meeting in Nairobi on August 6, 2022, at Nyayo Stadium,” Junet said.
However, it turned out that the UDA had already booked the facility on the same date and for the same reason as it was announced by Maina.
“For your information and for the public record, the Nyayo National Stadium venue is already secured and fully booked by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA)/Kenya Kwanza Alliance for August 6,” Maina said.
UDA said Sports Kenya had agreed to hire the premise to them but withdrew the availability 8 days later, citing peace concerts that were scheduled to take place at the venue.
“We regret to inform you that due to peace concerts scheduled to take place at both Moi International Sport Center- Kasarani and Nyayo National Stadium between August 5 to 7, 2022, the facility will not be available for their use,” Sports Kenya said.
