Police Retreat From Uhuru Park

Anti-riot police officers who arrived at Uhuru Park in the early hours of the moring have withdrawn from the venue of National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga's swearing in.

Reports indicate that the heavy police presence was causing tension in the city.

This came as NASA supporters made their way to the grounds from 4 am.

The youth reportedly burned beehives that had allegedly been left behind the main dais by masked men.

Earlier this week, the police had declared that they would not allow the event to proceed, with Attorney-General Githu Muigai having termed it 'high treason'.

Buses travelling to Nairobi from Voi were stopped last night by officers who claimed that the passengers lacked identification documents.

The buses, said to be ferrying NASA supporters to Nairobi for the event, were eventually released.

[caption caption="Police officers stationed around Uhuru Park"][/caption]

Nairobi Regional Commissioner Bernard Leparmarai on Monday stated that police officers would patrol the city to ensure Kenyans were not blocked from going about their regular activities.

“We have enough police officers who will maintain security and I urge everyone to continue with their businesses,” Leparmai stated.

Nairobi County Police Commander Japheth Koome had declared that no event would take place at Uhuru Park on Tuesday as they had not received notification of the same.

NASA Chief  Executive, Norman Magaya, however dismissed Koome and claimed they had notified them, further maintaining that the swearing in would proceed as planned.

He stated: “Mr Koome is really struggling to look for reasons to stop us from using the venue. Police are supposed to be apolitical and serve all Kenyans equally but Mr Koome has turned out to be pandering to the whims of Jubilee."

[caption caption="NASA supporters at Uhuru Park for a past event"][/caption]