CORD skips court proceedings on IEBC demonstrations

The Opposition yesterday snubbed court proceedings of the case filed by Jubilee MPs seeking to stop eviction of electoral commissioners from office.

The court ruled that despite their failure to appear in court for hearing of the suit, orders barring Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) from storming the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) offices countrywide will remain in force.

Extending the orders, Justice Isaac Lenaola said the suit will proceed to full hearing with or without the Opposition’s participation since they have been served and were aware of the ongoing proceedings.

The judge directed that the case file be placed before Justice Joseph Onguto on May 26 for further directions.

The court was informed that CORD was yet to file a response despite having been directed by the judge to do so.

On Friday, Justice Lenaola restrained the Opposition and their supporters from breaking into, storming, forcibly opening the doors or blocking access to the IEBC commissioners and staff premises.

They were also barred from accessing premises of residence of the current IEBC commissioners with a warning that whoever wants to interfere with the constitutional mandate of IEBC should abide by the prescribed law.

Later after Lenaola issued the orders, CORD lawyers James Orengo and Paul Mwangi said the planned demonstrations will continue and the orders “meant nothing” since they had not indicated that they were going to break the law.

Yesterday, Lenaola said although people have the right to demonstrate they should do so peacefully.