Stop being emotional over our calls, CORD tells Uhuru

CORD leaders, from left: Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula pay last respect to Rosa Oyoo, motherin- law to Raila . [PHOTOS: TITUS MUNALA /STANDARD]

Kenya: Do not get emotional over our push for a national referendum, the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) has told President Uhuru Kenyatta.

This was in response to the President’s remarks on Friday that the Opposition coalition should not issue ultimatums over “baseless issues”.

Speaking in Uriri Constituency, Migori County, during the burial of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s mother-in-law Rosa Ayuya, yesterday, the CORD leaders said they would continue piling pressure on the Jubilee Government to address the challenges affecting Kenyans.

National salvation

Although Raila did not talk politics because of the fact that he was locally referred to as son-in-law, his other CORD principals former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula said their push for a national referendum was unstoppable.

Kalonzo said their July 7 public meeting (Saba Saba rally) held at Uhuru Park in Nairobi last Monday was successful despite efforts by the Jubilee Government to frustrate the event. “It demonstrated the desire of the people to have a national salvation. They (Jubilee leaders) expected that we could ask our supporters to storm State House and cause chaos, but we did not do that because we did not want to harm innocent Kenyans,” he stated.

Kalonzo further told President Kenyatta to brace himself for tough times ahead, adding that they would unite all CORD members to put the Government on toes. “We will not make the same mistake we made in 2006 when I parted ways with my brother Raila. We will move forward as a team to ensure our dream of saving this nation is realised,” he said.

Wetang’ula accused the President of exhibiting pride, saying “he called us busybodies but very soon he will realise that he cannot ignore us”. He said Kenyans were eagerly waiting for CORD to finalise the logistics for the national referendum to append their signatures. “He cannot condition us not to issue ultimatums. If he wants dialogue with us, let him respond to the letter Raila wrote him when pushing for a national dialogue,” said the Bungoma senator.

Raila restricted himself to his relationship with the family and asked his coalition leaders to speak on his behalf. “For the respect of my mother-in- law, I am not going to talk about politics,” he said.

Protecting the Constitution

Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o said the President was annoyed because the national referendum process was likely to take them back to the people, who are facing serious challenges. His Homa-Bay counterpart Otieno Kajwang’ said they were pushing for the referendum to defend the Constitution. “The Constitution is being mutilated and that is why we are mobilising Kenyans to protect it,” he said.

Siaya Senator James Orengo said: “Our push for reforms is unstoppable.”

Nominated MP Oburu Oginga asked President Kenyatta not to lose his calm. “Cool down and stop being emotional about our calls for talks,” he said.

Nyando MP Fred Outa said CORD would mobilise its supporters to sabotage Safaricom if the communication firm is unprocedurally awarded Sh14 billion security tender by the government. His Karachuonyo colleague James Rege said the President made a mistake by taking the calls for dialogue lightly. “He should only invite the CORD principals for a cup of tea when things are well, not when Kenyans are suffering,” he stated.

The only politician from the Jubilee alliance who attended the burial ceremony was TNA nominated Senator Emma Mbura. “Political wrangles will not help Kenyans. Politicians should unite for the benefit of the common mwananchi,” she stated.

However, ODM nominated senator Elizabeth Ongoro dismissed Ms Mbura’s calls, saying she was sent by Jubilee. “We extended an olive branch to the President, but he squandered the opportunity. Therefore we cannot go back to dialogue with him,” she said.

Central Organisation of Trade Union Secretary General Francis Atwoli, who is a nephew to the late Ayuya, said the President should not be pained by criticisms from the Opposition. “As an elected leader, he must be brought to task by the public and should accept ultimatums,” he said.

 

Dishonest politicians

The event brought together Raila’s political rivals in Nyanza, including Migori Governor Okoth Obado and Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno. Mr Otieno, who recently threatened to form another political outfit to rival ODM in Nyanza, said the battle is still on. “I am going to assemble a team of productive politicians and I can assure you the politics of this region will never remain the same again,” he stated.

Dalmas was responding to calls from some Raila supporters that he respects the former PM. “The main problem with our politicians is failure to be honest. This must change for the benefit of our people,” he said.

The legislator, who was appointed by President Kenyatta to spearhead peace talks in South Sudan, is perceived to be a sympathiser of the Jubilee Government.

Other politicians at the event included Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga, Migori Senator Wilfred Machage and more than 20 other MPs.