Third Liberation Unstoppable, Raila Says as Reception from US Turns Chaotic

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has accused President Uhuru of ordering police to block his grand reception as he returned to the country from a 10-day trip to the United States on Friday.

National Super Alliance (NASA) supporters engaged in running battles with police as Raila and his entourage attempted to forcefully enter Nairobi Central Business District and into Uhuru Park where they intended to address a public rally.

Raila left Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in a convoy of over 10 vehicles accompanied by a section of Nasa leaders and hundreds of t supporters. However, things turned ugly moments after Raila left the airport, with his convoy taking the wrong side of Mombasa Road to avoid traffic snarl-up, leading to confrontations between police and opposition supporters. The convoy later used Jogoo Road to Haile Sellasie Avenue, with their final destination being Uhuru Park, but ugly engagement between Raila's supporters and police thwarted their plan.

A minibus operating under Forward Travellers Sacco, a lorry belonging to police and two pull carts were torched outside Burma Market along Jogoo Road. Police used teargas and live bullets to disperse the huge crowd and occasionally sprayed the masses using water canons but the Nasa supporters remained resilient.

Two people reportedly died during the incidents,while several others sustained injures.

After police resisted NASA's plan to address a rally at Uhuru Park, Nasa leaders led by Raila, Musalia Mudavadi, Siaya senator James Orengo and former Machakos senator Johnstone Muthama diverted to Uperhill area where they addressed a small group of supporters.

Raila said the journey to Canaan is still on, stating that third liberation is unstopped even as he hit out at President Uhuru accusing him of using police to intimidate Nasa .

"This (police response) is a sign of a crumbling regime," Raila said. He added: "The third liberation is unstoppable," he said.