Opposition vows to hold rally on Madaraka Day

CORD leader Raila Odinga (right) with Mombasa Governor Hassan at the Mombasa ASK Show Ground, yesterday. [PHOTO: MAARUFU MOHAMED/STANDARD]

CORD has vowed to hold parallel Madaraka Day celebrations on Wednesday at Uhuru Park, Nairobi, rising fears of fresh confrontations with the police.

At the weekend, Opposition leader Raila Odinga said he would lead celebrations at the historic grounds.

He spoke in Mombasa where Governor Hassan Ali Joho hosted him. He was at the Mombasa ASK Showground where he presented bursaries to thousands of beneficiaries and at Wild Waters Conference Centre and several youth leaders.

The former Prime Minister said the Jubilee administration was trying to roll back democratic gains. He also accused Jubilee of sabotaging devolution.

“What we have was achieved at a great cost. It should never be let go,” Raila said. He told the youth that Kenya does not enjoy a good international reputation, saying the Jubilee administration had lowered the country’s prestige by comparing it with failed or failing states like Somalia, Sudan and Burundi.

“Kenyans do not want to be compared with Somalia, Burundi, Uganda and Sudan,” Raila said. He claimed Kenya’s stability was being threatened by tribalism.

“The enemies of devolution are alive and kicking and they are very powerful,” Raila said.

Yesterday, police said a group of evangelists had booked the venue, a claim refuted by the Nairobi County government which said the Opposition had been permitted to use the venue on Wednesday.

But Raila response at the Mombasa showground yesterday was tha he would personally lead the parallel celebrations as President Uhuru Kenyatta leads state celebrations at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru on Wednesday.

Raila said the Opposition will use the June 1 celebration to remind Kenyans about the unfulfilled promises by the Jubilee government, denounce corruption and outline how best to “to liberate the country.”

“Whether they like it or not we will hold the celebrations at Uhuru Park. We have a right to celebrate the day and no one will stop us,” said Raila.

CORD had last week written to the police to inform them of their plans to hold celebrations at the venue but the police wrote back telling them that the venue had been booked by a tele-evangelist.

Key demands

And Raila yesterday outlined three demands he said are not negotiable in talks with the Jubilee administration. The former Prime Minister said the removal of IEBC commissioners was not negotiable.

He also said massive country-wide voter registration should be carried a fresh before the next election besides issuance of ID cards.

The Opposition leader was addressing thousands of parents and students at Mombasa’s Show Ground where more than 14,000 students benefited from the Sh101 million bursary kitty. Joho said he would lead more demonstrations in Mombasa if Jubilee fails to initiate dialogue over the IEBC. “Those saying that negotiations can only be done in Parliament are out to lock Raila and some of us who are not in Parliament from participating. We want a process that would allow all of us to give our views,” said Joho.

Joho, who is also the ODM Deputy Party Leader, reiterate that all the IEBC commissioner must leave office because the country was at the periphery of chaos if they continue staying in the office.

The Opposition leaders said they would not stop from demanding a level playing ground that would guarantee free and fair polls.

Raila warned that Jubilee would not defeat Kenyans demands for electoral reforms.

He claimed more than 10 demonstrators were killed by the police during the recent anti-IEBC demonstrations while six others were admitted in hospitals in Kisumu with bullets still lodged in their bodies.

“Almost 10 people were killed by the police in the recent demonstrations but the President Uhuru is still silent. Some of the victims were not even participating in the demos,” said Nominated Senator Elizabeth Ongoro.

Mvita MP Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir said IEBC commissioners’ reputations was “irredeemably tainted by allegation of corruption” and called on Uhuru to force them to retire. “The President forced former Inspector General of Police (David) Kimaiyo. We know what happened with the last Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. He can force these commissioners out,” said Nassir. Other present were Suna West Mp Junet Mohamed, Mombasa Women Rep Mishi Mboko and her Kilifi counterpart Asha Jumwa.