Hate leaflets threaten to mar CORD rally in Nakuru

Nakuru, Kenya: Rising tension in Nakuru County and circulation of hate leaflets led to the cancellation of CORD rally, The Standard on Saturday has learnt.

Local organisers of the rally that was aimed at drumming up support for the opposition calls for national dialogue, revealed yesterday that tension in the region informed the decision by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to call off the rally.

“There is tension in Nakuru County following the leaflets that have been circulated. Our supporters prevailed upon us to ask the CORD leadership to call off the rallies for the sake of peaceful co-existence,” said ODM youth leader Hilton Abiola, a key member of the organising team.

But when calling off the rallies scheduled for Kisii and Nakuru, the CORD leader said the Nakuru rally was cancelled to allow Kenyans to mourn those killed in Mpeketoni attacks.

Yesterday,Mr Abiola said the Coalition would not hold any rallies in the county for fear that some individuals might take advantage of the tension to cause chaos and blame them on the opposition.

“Nakuru County is a flash point for ethnic animosity, and we do not want a situation where people circulating the leaflets might accuse us of inciting violence,” the youth leader said.

The Nakuru rally had sharply divided leaders from the region with a majority feeling that it would provoke ethnic animosity. Early this week, hate leaflets were circulated in the streets of Nakuru town warning members of one community to leave the Rift Valley region.

The printed leaflets dated June 19, gave the community seven days ultimatum to vacate the region or face forceful eviction. Local security team led by County Commissioner Mohammed Birik, held a meeting with security stakeholders before he embarked on a series of public meetings in Kwa Rhonda, Kaptembwo and Shabab area where residents had closed their businesses for fear of attacks. Local police boss Bernard Kioko said security was on high alert and investigations had been launched to establish the source of the leaflets. “We have taken charge of the situation and police are on high alert in case of any eventuality,” Mr Kioko said.

Police said the leaflets started circulating at around 5am on Wednesday in areas predominately inhabited by a certain community. On Thursday, more leaflets were circulated around the Nakuru bus termini claiming that the opposition was working with foreign governments to overthrow President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration.

And yesterday, other leaflets allegedly circulated by one of the communities, said they were prepared for any eventuality. Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua said the rallies risk reversing reconciliation efforts after the 2007/8 post-poll chaos. His sentiments were echoed by MPs Kimani Ngunjiri (Bahati) and MP Samuel Arama (Nakuru Town West).