|
|
| CORD leader Raila odinga (left) with Kisii Governor James Ongwae when he arrived in Bonchari constituency Thursday to campaign for ODM candidate in the on going battle for the Bonachari parliamentary seat. [PHOTO: COLLINS ODUOR/STANDARD] |
Kenya: The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) has suspended two rallies meant to force the Government to accept national dialogue.
CORD leader Raila Odinga said they suspended the Kisii rally that was scheduled to take place today to allow the ongoing campaigns for the Bonchari parliamentary by-election.
Further, Raila said the coalition’s planned rally in Nakuru, which was scheduled for Sunday will also not take place. He said they cancelled the Nakuru rally in honour of the more than 60 people who were killed during the Mpeketoni attack.
CORD appeared to have yielded to pressure from Jubilee and some of its members, who had called for an immediate cancellation of all rallies to cushion the country against further polarisation.
However, Raila said the rallies would continue thereafter until the Government accepts to dialogue with the Opposition to address challenges facing the country.
READ MORE
Why Luo elders divided over burial site for Raila Odinga's sister
Oburu's big task amid rising internal ODM rivalries
He said the Kisii rally would now take place on July 4 before they head to Kisumu the following day ahead of the “Saba Saba” rally on July 7.
“We will not cancel our rallies the way they have asked. We will go on until Jubilee yields to pressure,” Raila said.
He criticised the State over claims that the Mpeketoni attacks were politically instigated, saying CORD stands for humanity.
He was addressing hundreds of residents in Kisii while campaigning for Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidate Oroo Oyioka.
The decision to suspend the Kisii rally came after an extensive meeting between the former PM and some local leaders. There has been discontent among ODM leaders from Kisii County over the rallies being planned by the coalition.
MPs Richard Onyonka (Kitutu Chache South) on Wednesday led other CORD and Jubilee legislators in Nairobi in urging political leaders to call off planned political rallies in the country.
The leaders said the meetings were heightening political temperatures at a time the nation is facing serious security challenges.
Thursday, after holding a meeting with Kisii County Governor James Ongwae and his deputy Joash Maangi, area senator Chris Obure and Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire at a Kisii hotel, Raila decided to cancel the rallies.
Celebrate victory
The former premier ordered that the suspension of the planned rallies be immediately communicated to the CORD Secretariat and other coalition principals Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula and former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and other leaders involved in planning the meetings.
“We wish to concentrate in the Bonchari by-election and wish to assure our supporters that we will be back later to celebrate ODM’s victory,” said Raila.
It is not clear whether the warning by Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua and other leaders from the region cautioning CORD against holding public rallies in the area contributed to the sudden change of mind.Leaders from Nakuru had maintained that the rallies would breed ethnic animosity and interfere with the region’s peace.
