Heavy police presence in Nairobi's CBD ahead of Saba Saba

NAIROBI, KENYA: Police have mounted road blocks on major roads and secured Nairobi’s Uhuru Park ahead of CORD’s Saba Saba rally Monday.

Most shops were closed in the morning despite reassurance from the police of no violence during today’s rally.

Coalition for Reforms and Democracy ( CORD) leaders on Sunday warned that the Jubilee government will be held responsible should anything happen in Monday's Saba Saba rally at Uhuru Park.

The CORD luminaries said they have been holding people's consultative forums across the country peacefully and do not expect their supporters to cause chaos.

And the CORD team led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Kalonzo musyoka and Moses Wetang'ula continued with their calls for the disbandment of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), accusing its members of having contributed to electoral fraud in the last General Election. "You all know what happened last year and we cannot go into another election with IEBC as currently constituted.

We must have dialogue over the issues affecting Kenya," said Raila. The former premier called on Kenyans not to be afraid of Monday's rally saying Kenyans want peace and not violence.

"Kenyans should not be afraid. There is nothing to fear. We have been holding several rallies in the country and we have been peaceful. I have heard they have sent 15,000 police officers yet there is insecurity in the country. For us our security is the people," said Raila.

Raila maintained that the sovereignty of Kenya belongs to Kenyans and is exercised by people directly or by elected leaders.

He said they have been traversing the country seeking Kenyans' views on the issues affecting them and wanted to come up with solutions to the problems. He warned the Government not to threaten them with arrests should anything happen during today's rally, saying the State should provide security to its citizens since that is their duty.

The Opposition leaders cited the runaway insecurity which led to the death of over 20 people on Saturday night, saying the Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo, CID Director Ndegwa Muhoro and Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku should resign over their failure to protect Kenyans.

Addressing the jubilant crowd at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos County in the run-up to Monday's rally, the leaders said they have a reason to seek for answers to the challenges facing the country.

"We are peace-loving Kenyans and tomorrow (Monday) we expect that we will hold dialogue with the people of Kenya to find the way forward," said Ford Kenya Leader Wetang'ula. He said everywhere they have gone, youths, farmers, people with disabilities and businessmen are all complaining of the high cost of living and doing business.