Rivals in bid to show their might

Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta           PHOTO/STANDARD

By Geoffrey Mosoku

Kenya: The Opposition and the ruling coalition will test their popularity on Friday with parallel rallies in Nairobi.

CORD has planned a rally for the same day to be addressed by its co-Principal Raila Odinga.

This will be a day after launching a mass movement to force out Mr Ahmed Issack Hassan and his team at the electoral commission, and block more payments to Mr Anura Perera, the face of the Anglo Leasing contracts.

According to the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD), the movement dubbed “Okoa Kenya” (Save Kenya), will be launched in Mombasa just 24 hours before the coalition’s co-Principal Raila Odinga arrives from the US.

But the ruling Jubilee coalition is wary of the timing of the CORD rally and now plans to mobilise its supporters for a rally at a yet-to-be-decided venue in the heart of the capital on the same day.

“We are meeting Monday evening to decide on the venue, but I want to assure you that we are not political cowards. We shall hold a major rally for our supporters in Nairobi on Saturday,” National Assembly Majority Leader Adan Duale told The Standard last evening.

He claimed that CORD is planning to spoil the party by raising political temperatures during their rally at KICC, so that Government leaders would be forced to react to their allegations during the national day speeches.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, who will officiate his second Madaraka Day, is expected to outline measures to deal with insecurity following terror attacks by suspected Al-Shabaab sympathisers.

Last year, CORD leaders led by Raila skipped the country’s Jubilee (50th) Madaraka Day celebrations.

Duale claimed CORD is planning violence and said security agencies should be fully alert.

“It is on record that CORD rallies are marred with violence and incitement, security agencies should ready to avert a situation where the rally would affect the peaceful daily lives of Kenyans,” Duale alleged.

The title of CORD’s movement is themed to resonate with CORD’s claim that the Jubilee government is on the wrong path, and must urgently convene a national dialogue conference to tackle the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Anglo Leasing payments, rising insecurity and the high cost of living.

CORD’s plan is to receive Raila at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, with the kind of political passion accorded to former Opposition leader Kenneth Matiba when he arrived from the United Kingdom in 1991, at the height of the battle for multiparty politics.

Siaya Senator James Orengo and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed travelled to Mombasa on Sunday to consult with Coast leaders on the rally to be held at either Khadijah or the famous Tononoka grounds.

The Mombasa rally will be preceded by one in Nairobi’s Mathare Constituency tomorrow, the third by CORD in Nairobi in the last seven days, as part of the build up to Raila’s return on Saturday.

CORD appears to be planning beyond Raila’s return for mass action last witnessed in the push for constitutional reforms in the 1990s.

“Yes CORD is planning a rally in Mombasa. Whether it portends something bigger than just preparing to welcome its leader we cannot tell at this moment. The politicians will make public their intentions at the rally,” Junet Mohamed said.

On Saturday, fellow CORD co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula will receive Raila, who is expected to arrive in the morning.

Raila and his entourage will ride on an open bus through parts of the city from Outering, Jogoo, Haile Selassie and Moi Avenue roads to KICC where he will address his supporters.

“We are pleased to go receive our coalition leader who has been away for some time to give us direction. Kenya is undergoing serious challenges of insecurity, corruption, high cost of living and poor governance that need urgent solutions,” Senate Minority Whip Janet Ong’era said.

According to Ong’era, CORD’s nationwide rallies are meant to put pressure on the Government to deliver on its pre-election promises.

Zero tolerance

“The cost of living has gone up, corruption is back and you can see Sh1.4 billion paid to ghosts and another Sh3 billion about to be paid in the Anglo Leasing scam even as Kenyans suffer and that is what we want to remind Kenyans,” she said.

“We want to remind Jubilee that they campaigned on the platform of zero tolerance for corruption and reducing the cost of living among others.”

Makueni MP Dan Maanzo said the rallies are meant to reinvigorate CORD in the face of criticism by Jubilee that they were asleep, adding that they would use all legal and constitutional means, including peaceful street protests to drive their point home.

“We want to show Jubilee that we are not asleep and are a formidable force that will tell Kenyans where the Government is erroneous and pressure it to pull up its socks,” Maanzo said.

By yesterday, CORD was asking its supporters to avoid going to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to receive the former Prime Minister, but instead wait in town due to the prevailing security situation, as only MPs and other dignitaries will be allowed in at the airport.

Mobilise supporters

“We want to give ‘Baba’ a grand reception befitting a stature of a president. You will see a sea of humanity in Nairobi on Saturday,” said ODM’s Nairobi branch chairman George Aladwa.

Aladwa, the immediate former Mayor of Nairobi, said CORD had mobilised supporters from across the country to throng in the city adding that they will meet by Thursday to finalise the programme.

But Duale said it is too early for CORD to condemn Uhuru’s government.

“It is not the right time for the Opposition to call for mass action when the country is under attack from the Al-Shabaab militants. Kenyans should be more united now than never,” said Duale.

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen called CORD irresponsible, saying its actions were meant to sabotage Kenya’s economy.

“People must differentiate between opposing the government of the day and opposing your country. The acts by the Opposition do not demonstrate patriotism for our country,” claimed Murkomen.