NASA supporters ridicule police boss for warning against Uhuru Park

Nairobi Police Commander Japheth Koome elicited reactions when he declared that no one will be allowed into Uhuru Park grounds on Tuesday, January 30. Koome, in a press briefing on Sunday, said the police have not received any notification from the National Super Alliance (NASA) over its planned swearing-in event.

Koome’s announcement came just two days to the much awaited ceremony. The police boss warned the Coalition leaders against assembling their supporters at the said grounds to avoid confrontations.

“You have heard several groups want to use Uhuru Park on the same day. Tell them we love this city and we will guard it jealously. We will not allow a breach of peace. That the two groups or three groups will meet at the same venue, what do you expect? It’s confrontation. People will be hurt,” he said. He said his office will not sit back and watch as that happens.

This is not the first time the police boss is warning NASA of holding a meeting, with the same warning being issued in late November when Raila was to be sworn in at the same place. 

NASA leaders, led by CEO Norman Magaya have however insisted that they will not change the venue for their ceremony. The County Government had earlier notified the public that the grounds will be closed indefinitely for major renovations.

This came after two other groups, The Nairobi Business Community and a church wrote to City Hall seeking a permit to use the same grounds.

The business community, which claimed to have been allowed to use the venue, had announced it was planning to hold a free medical clinic targeting street children who would wish to get circumcised.

NASA supporters on social media rubbed Koome’s remarks back at his face on Twitter. They down talked his warning insisting that they will flock the grounds to see the swearing-in go on.

Here are their responses;

Perhaps someone should ask Japhet Koome if police officers are going to be incharge of Uhuru Park renovation,then that must be a tender wrongly awarded because police officers are only mandated to provide security to citizens.— Raila Junior Odinga (@Railajunior) January 28, 2018

Just recently Japhet Koome asked Kenyans to walk in small groups to save themselves from CBD criminal gangs ,kenyans are also encouraged to come out in large numbers to save themselves from extreme police brutality and injustices.

— Raila Junior Odinga (@Railajunior) January 28, 2018

Japhet koome should spare us his theatrics. These are not the same NASA supporters who received raila at JKIA. They have morphed into something else & I will advise koome&his ilk not catalyse the situation. They better keep off, be there to collect evidence of treason or shut up— Patrick P Wamalwa (@PatrickWamalw11) January 28, 2018

Someone tell Japhet Koome that NASA supporters will be walking into Uhuru park in groups to avoid the criminal gangs(police & muggers) just as he had advised.

— Mesh Burning. (@Headonisst) January 28, 2018

Japhet Koome is a pillar of impunity, the definition of mediocrity, the face of intolerance and a strong reason why the Kenya Police needs serious reforms. He speaks with a lot of finality as if he is the giver of life. His seat was occupied by more lethal people before-no more.

— Jomo Nyaribo Kelvin (@KelvinJomo) January 28, 2018

Japhet Koome and others should be reminded Uhuru Park is a public place,neither Jubilee nor police own it. #DemocracyOrChaos #LiweLiwalo— Simeon Kalu Lepariyo (@kalu_lepariyo) January 28, 2018

SHITHOLE Manenos
Nairobi Police Boss Japhet Koome is advising Nairobians to walk in groups especially in the evening and avoid looking "enticing" to criminal gangs.
Gangs have taken over!!!#EndKNHRot#NairobiCBDMuggers— Muthui Mkenya (@MuthuiMkenya) January 23, 2018

Nairobi Police Boss Japhet Koome is advising Nairobians to walk in groups especially in the evening and avoid looking "enticing" to criminal gangs.
Okay, I find this one funny... Koome, just deal with the criminals. Your job is to make Nairobi safe.— Philip Etale (@EtalePhilip) January 23, 2018

I want to assure japhet Koome NASA supports will be attending Raila swearing in ceremony and nothing can be done to stop them.— Vitalis Omboyi (@Vitalis_Omboyi) January 28, 2018