BBI rally venue moved from Tononoka to Mama Ngina Ground

ODM leader Raila Odinga with Coast governors Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Amason Kingi (Kilifi) abd Granton Samboja (Taita Taveta) after a meeting ahead of the BBI rally on Saturday. [Courtesy]

Opposition chief Raila Odinga has announced the change of venue for the Bilding Bridges Initiative (BBI) rally from Tononoka Grounds to Mama Ngina Waterfront Park from Tononoka Grounds.

Raila who is Mombasa ahead of the Saturday rally announced the changes after a meeting with Coast leaders to plan for the forum.

Raila urged Coast residents to come out in their large numbers and attend the event.

“This is a people’s process therefore they must come out and make their opinion known,” he said.

He also pleaded with those who will be attending the rally to keep peace during and after the venue.

The rally was early planned to be hosted at Tononoka Grounds before being moved to Mama Ngina.

 Politicians allied to Raila and those backing Deputy President William Ruto have been engaged in a war of words over plans to cause chaos at the rally.

ODM leaders on Friday accused Ruto of planning to cause chaos at rally as Senate Majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen claimed there were plans to humiliate leaders allied to Ruto during the Mombasa rally.

The leaders led by Saboti MP Caleb Amisi claimed Ruto and his allies were out to cause chaos at the rally and blame it on ODM and leaders allied to President Uhuru Kenyatta.

He cited an incident where rowdy youths stormed Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa's live press conference as part of the plan.

"We have information and intelligence that the DP and his group have adopted a strategy to come to Tononoka to cause chaos and it has actually begun in Mombasa this morning, through provocations and they use that as an excuse to state that the BBI forum is not open to Kenyans,” said Amisi.

They warned the Tanga Tanga against their plot, saying it will not be business as usual should they try any games in Mombasa.

"This strategy will not work as we wish to inform the DP that our people are ready," Amisi warned.

Jumwa was Friday morning addressing the media on a planned BBI rally attendance by the Tanga Tanga wing of the ruling Jubilee Party in Mombasa tomorrow when the youths struck chanting anti-Tanga Tanga slogans.

 Jumwa had to cut suspend the press conference until the rowdy youths were out of the scene.

She downplayed the interruption saying the youths had been sent to deliver a message which they did deliver.

"You have seen the group wielding stones, they have been sent by people we know to come and deliver the message," she said.

Jumwa, who ditched the ODM camp to back Deputy President William Ruto, warned leaders against politicising the rallies saying the aim of BBI is to unite Kenyans.

The legislator said s no showdown was expected in Mombasa during the BBI rally; that the narrative was a creation of the media.

 “I am hearing about a showdown at Tononoka, there will be no showdown. Forget about these media stories,” said Jumwa.

Ali who came to the venue moments later accompanied by youths accused Governor Joho of paying goons to storm the press conference.