Azimio Claims Police Attempted To Stop Prayers, Threatened Church Leaders: "We Moved Event To SKM"

• Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party said the police officer had instructions from very powerful individuals
• ODM communications director Philip Etale said church leaders who were preparing for the event were ordered to bring down the tents
• He explained that the party decided to move the event from De Paul Centre in Karen to the Wiper party's SKM Command Centre

Nairobi - Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party planned to have an Interdenominational Prayer Service at De Paul Centre in Karen.

However, the venue was changed at the last minute from the Catholic Church-owned facility to the Wiper party's SKM Command Centre.

Details are emerging, shedding light on behind-the-scenes acts that might have informed the decision.

In a statement on Twitter, ODM party's director of communications, Philip Etale, revealed that the police tried to stop the event.

Etale claimed the police had instructions from 'powerful people' and stopped the clergy from setting up the tents.

He explained that the church leaders were told to bring down their tents, failure to which they would be caned.

"Police, on instructions from some powerful individuals, stopped the Church leaders from setting up today’s event (Interdenominational Prayer Service) at the Catholic-owned De Paul Centre in Karen. A dome tent had been mounted, but they were told to bring it down failure to which watu wangenyoroshwa viboko," he said.

Etale celebrates the event's success

He added that the coalition party made the decision to move the venue as earlier announced to avert the confrontation.

Etale said he was grateful that the event and others held after the prayers were successful despite the initial uncertainty.

"A decision had to be made on time to have the event moved to SKM Centre in Karen. The service was successful as was the events that followed. We thank God for the good day and Glory be to Him," he added.

Raila Odinga visits patients nursing gunshot wounds

In a separate development, ODM leader Raila Odinga visited injured supporters at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital.

Raila visited Mama Lucy Hospital, where he checked on patients nursing gunshot wounds due to the protests.

On arrival at the facility, the former prime minister was taken to various wards, interacting with the patients to find out how they were responding to the treatment.

The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party leader was accompanied by other opposition leaders.