Our march to State House in 2017 is unstoppable, CORD leaders say

CORD leader Raila Odinga during the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga/ Fidel Odinga memorial service in Bondo, Siaya county on January 30 2016. PIC BY COLLINS ODUOR

CORD political heavyweights have declared their march to State House unstoppable.

Speaking in Bondo at the memorial service for Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Fidel Odinga, the opposition leaders vowed to soldier on "despite intimidation and persecution" by the Jubilee administration.

"We have a date with destiny in 2017 at the ballot. Our movement is ready... no force on earth can stop it from reaching its destination – State House," said CORD leader Raila Odinga.

They said demographics of younger new voters favoured their political strongholds but feared the slow issuance of identity cards and the use of a single voter registration centre per ward would deny many Kenyans a chance to participate at the next General Election.

"We have received a raw deal as a country due to mediocrity of leadership since independence. We cannot allow a Jubilee victory again. We must vote out agents of reduction and dictatorship," he said.

The leaders had gathered at Kang'o Kajaramogi to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the death of Kenya's doyen of Opposition politics Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and his grandson Fidel Odinga who passed on last year.

The politicians then retreated to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology grounds where they preached politics and pitched for Raila as CORD's presidential candidate.

"We will stand together with Kalonzo Musyoka, Moses Wetang'ula and Martha Karua till we win the election," Raila said. "Jubilee is resisting constitutional change. That resistance is stifling the country. They are killing the Constitution to avoid being accountable to the people."

Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua said she will stand with the CORD fraternity and urged the youth to register as voters and join the campaign team to defeat Jubilee.

"We are seeing Opposition politicians going to bed with Government purportedly in search of development projects. We must resist this," Karua said.

She asked Kenyans to respect ideals of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. Siaya Senator James Orengo asked Jubilee to stop intimidating Opposition leaders and bloggers fighting against corruption.

CORD said its top leaders among them Johnstone Muthama, Wetang'ula, George Aladwa, and lately Governor Ali Hassan Joho were being intimidated with flimsy court suits, threats, harassment, and closure of businesses in a bid to weaken the coalition.

The Kenya Revenue Authority has however explained that Joho's family enterprises were shut because of issues relating to tax evasion.

The Opposition leaders had harsh words for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) claiming it was preparing Kenya for a skewed election by having one voter registration centre per ward.

Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa said, "Jubilee has failed Kenyans in its term and has abetted corruption. It has rolled back democratic gains and must be voted out".

He said the only way to beat Jubilee was for its principals Raila, Kalonzo and Wetang'ula and their ally Karua to stay together and mobilise voters to turn up in huge numbers on the ballot day.

Ruaraka MP TJ Kajwang said IEBC was setting a bad example which would disenfranchise many voters left out in the registration exercise.

"IEBC is resorting to periodic registration with just one centre per ward. This is restrictive and could deny many Kenyans the opportunity to elect leaders of their choice," said Kajwang.

Other leaders in attendance included Paul Otuoma, David Ochieng', Fred Outa, Gladys Wanga, Agnes Zani, George Oner, Opiyo Wandayi and John Mbadi.

Governors Cyprian Awiti, Okoth Obado, Jack Ranguma, Sospeter Ojaamong and Cornel Rasanga and Nairobi deputy governor Jonathan Mueke addressed the gathering.