NASA generals vs dynamic duo: Frantic last day

Nakuru was all red. Nairobi was a sea of orange. As Jubilee presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta snaked his way to Nakuru’s Afraha Stadium, Raila Odinga entered Nairobi’s Uhuru Park to a rousing welcome.

Both were making the final command to thousands of their supporters -- some troops braving a chilly grey morning while the others withstood sweltering heat.

In Nakuru, supporters started trickling into the stadium as early as 7am. They chanted pro-Jubilee slogans and sang to the tunes of songs praising the president and his Jubilee Party blaring from huge speakers. They waved the miniature flags, as the president and his deputy acknowledged greetings from the roofs of their vehicles.

Meanwhile, as the grey lifted off the city skies, breaking into a sunny afternoon, a sea of orange slowly but steadily replaced the greenery of Uhuru Park.

Kenyatta prayed

Before they made their way to Uhuru Park, followers of the Opposition made rounds within the city centre, in a cacophony of noises that included car horns, vuvuzelas, whistles and pro-NASA music booming from speakers mounted on cars.

When he got to the stage, Raila was flanked by his main man from the Coast Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and his co-principal Musalia Mudavadi. There was also Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero. Minutes later his co-principal  Kalonzo Musyoka rode into the venue, waving to his fans through Toyota Prado’s sun roof.

As the rally went on, the four principals eventually sat on the main dias, with thousands of eyes and ears eager to see and hear for one last time what a NASA presidency would mean for the country.

Governor Joho, in his traditional firebrand nature of daring the State, made it clear that the Opposition will not condone any attempts of vote rigging.

“Kama in noma ni noma,” he said, with the crowd equally responsive to his rubble rousing.

The significance of the venue could not go without notice.

For Raila, Uhuru Park represents the closest he has come to occupying the seat he has wanted for years.

Jakom Presidency?

In 2002, he sat a few metres from Kenya’s 3rd president Mwai Kibaki. Months earlier, he had declared ‘Kibaki Tosha’ for the top job and Kenyans overwhelmingly voted out the previous regime.

Yesterday was not the first time Raila has had thousands chant out his name, and call him ‘Baba’,  ‘Jakom’ or President. If he sticks to his word, it will be the last time he does.

After Tuesday, we shall know whether his fanatical following will be enough to propel him to the House on the Hill, and whether his troops, loyal over decades and sometimes loyal to a fault will finally get the reward of seeing their general become commander-in-chief.

In Nakuru, Kenyatta said by voting for him, Kenyans will be giving him the mandate to continue the country’s unprecedented development journey he started. And when he finished addressing the crowd, President Kenyatta surprised the crowed when he offered to say the closing prayers.

He prayed for the unity of the country, peace during and after the electiona and also for his re-election on Tuesday.

[Additional reporting by Steve Mkawale]