Police block a section of Nairobi street near Supreme Court, August 26, 2017. [Photo|ODM]The National Super Alliance has protested, after Nairobi Police Commander Japheth Koome dismissed its plan to hold vigil prayers outside Supreme Court buildings, Sunday.Through ODM Executive Director, NASA said it would go ahead with the prayers, starting 11am, ahead of hearing of its presidential petition against President Uhuru Kenyatta.Below is the NASA statement, issued Saturday."The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is one of the five affiliate parties that constitute the National Super Alliance (NASA). As NASA, we have filled a petition in the Supreme Court of Kenya challenging the declaration by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of Uhuru Kenyatta as the duly elected President of the Republic of Kenya. As full hearing of the petition begins on Monday 28th August 2017, NASA has appealed to Kenyans in all corners of our beloved nation to hold their prayers for justice, peace and good counsel on the part of the judges of the Supreme Court on Sunday 27th August. One of the sites of these prayer gatherings is the neighborhood of the Supreme Court building.In its known fidelity for respect for the Rule of Law and good order in our society, NASA notified the police of the Nairobi prayer gathering. Our innocent expectations were that the police would provide security to the worshippers and ensure that the Sunday offertory was protected from those who might have I'll intents.We are therefore appalled by information that Nairobi County Police Commander Japheth Koome has "rejected" the NASA notification. We hope this is "fake news."It's important that those who still live in the old order appreciate that the era of granting licenses or rejection of applications for public gatherings ended with the Inter Parties Parliamentary Group (IPPG) deal of 1997. The Constitution of Kenya 2010 makes the practice at best a subject to be researched in our National Archives. In other words, no law gives Koome powers of approving or rejecting notifications for public gatherings. Police can only advise on security challenges and discuss with organizers how to deal with such challenges.It is even more incomprehensible that the police can purport to outlaw a prayer meeting on Sunday - a universally recognized day of worship for many religions, denominations and sects in Kenya. We cannot allow dark forces to roll back democratic gains Kenyans have fought and won in the last 25 years. We shall resist this creeping dictatorship.ODM assures all Kenyans that it is their inalienable right to worship in mosques, churches, temples, shrines and open spaces for this country and society so that justice may be our shield and defender. As a Party and NASA coalition, we shall be faithful to the law but defy illegal edicts.Dated in Nairobi this 26th August 2017Oduor Ong'wen EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,ODM"

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