- Title: KENYA: PRESIDENT KENYATTA ADDRESSES MASS RALLY ON HISTORIC GROUND
- Date: 3rd November 1969
- Summary: CROWD; KENYATTA ARRIVING; WALKS TO ROSTRUM; KIKUYU DANCERS; CROWD APPLAUD. Initials JB/VS/DW/ES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 18th November 1969 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: KIAMBU, CENTRAL KENYA
- Country: Kenya
- Reuters ID: LVA3H3WS31DHOEXTJC0O71PUHK59
- Story Text: PRESIDENT KENYATTA HAS ADDRESSED A MASS RALLY NEAR KIAMBU, WHERE HE HELD HIS LAST RALLY BEFORE BEING ARRESTED AND JAILED IN 1952, AS KENYA PREPARES FOR ITS FIRST GENERAL ELECTIONS FOR SIX YEARS.
THE GROUND WHERE THE RALLY WAS HELD HAS BECOME TO BE REGARDED AS AN IMPORTANT SHRINE SINCE THE EVENTS OF 1952.
AFTER ADDRESSING THE RALLY THE PRESIDENT WAS ENTERTAINED BY A MASSED DISPLAY OF TRADITIONAL DANCERS, SINGERS AND TEAMS OF SCHOOL CHOIRS.
MEANWHILE ABOUT A DOZEN PEOPLE HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WILL SEEK NOMINATION AS CANDIDATES IN KENYA'S FIRST GENERAL ELECTION SINCE 1963.
NO DATE HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR THE ELECTIONS, BUT THEY ARE EXPECTED SHORTLY, PERHAPS BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
AT THE MOMENT THE RULING KENYA AFRICAN NATIONAL UNION IS THE ONLY REGISTERED POLITICAL PARTY -- AND NOMINATIONS MUST BE BACKED BY A POLITICAL PARTY.
LAST WEEK (OCT 30) THE KENYA GOVERNMENT BANNED THE ONLY OPPOSITION PARTY, THE KENYA PEOPLE'S UNION, DECLARING THAT IT HAD BECOME AN INCREASINGLY SUBVERSIVE ORGANISATION WHOSE AIM WAS TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT.
EARLIER THE OPPOSITION LEADER, MR. OGINGA ODINGA, AND HIS DEPUTY, WERE PLACED UNDER HOUSE ARREST, AND THE SIX OTHER OPPOSITION MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT DETAINED FOLLOWING DISTURBANCES IN THE KISUMU AREA NEAR LAKE VICTORIA, DURING A VISIT BY PRESIDENT KENYATTA.
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