CORD's agenda for Madaraka Day rally

CORD leader Raila Odinga greets members of the Mombasa Memorial Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) choir and other faithful after attending this year's Youth Sunday service, yesterday. [PHOTO: GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD]

The Opposition will not abandon Wednesday's Madaraka Day rally at Uhuru Park, CORD leader Raila Odinga said yesterday.

Police had written to CORD to inform them that a group of televangelists had booked the venue although the Nairobi county government alleges the Opposition had a licence to hold celebrations at the same venue on the same day.

The former Prime Minister said the Opposition's rally should not be seen as an act of defiance against the Government. He said rally was aimed at defusing rising political tension and enable CORD outline its plans to reconcile and heal the country.

"Our country today is at a crossroads. Madaraka Day celebrations should unite our people and not to divide them. There are those who are spreading lies that the Uhuru Park celebrations would be a show of defiance or disrespect to the Government, nothing could be further from the truth," said Mr Raila.

He said Madaraka Day celebrations should remind Kenyans the ideals of the nation's forefathers among them unity and to shun tribalism.

"We want to call for peace, unity and reconciliation. There will be no politics but messages to unity Kenyans," said Raila at Mombasa Memorial Cathedral.

The CORD team will convene at Uhuru Park as President Uhuru Kenyatta speaks at the official state celebrations at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru.

"Our Message will be clear on Madaraka Day- Truth, Justice, reconciliation and Peace. Kenyans live in denial a lot and we do not want to confront the past...reparations alone cannot heal our nation," Raila said.

"We are ready to commence our rally after President Uhuru Kenyatta is done with his function in Nakuru but we do not want to be lectured to by civil servants."

He said CORD needed a meeting of its own because they do not want "partisan politics of power brokers and Jubilee apologists".

"We are going ahead with our rally wapende wasipende (whether they like it or not). There is no legal or constitutional reason to stop the rally and prayers to reflect on the status of the Kenyan state being chipped away by corruption and dictatorship."

Raila said he was disturbed that Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho had taken a "partisan role of lecturing the opposition".

"He should remain neutral and so should the Cabinet Secretaries," he said.

 Bigger crowd

He said initially they had agreed to join Nairobi County for celebrations together with county commissioner but they chickened out fearing that CORD would have a bigger crowd and decided to hold a parallel function.

Raila reiterated his willingness to dialogue with the Government over the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and other challenges facing the country.

"I began calling for dialogue three years ago. I wrote to my brother Uhuru and said that we need to sit down and talk but people said I wanted a Nusu Mkate (power sharing) in the Government. The Church and other voices of reason have spoken on the need to have a national dialogue. I'm still ready for it," he said.

Raila said several youths were killed by the police during the anti-IEBC demonstrations and unresolved murder of businessman Jacob Juma points to a country in a crisis.

"Like what the Bible demands of us in the book of second Chronicles chapter 14, verse 13-16 we must humble ourselves and sit as brothers to resolve our differences and bring this country together," said Raila.