Police say no to Opposition’s anti-IEBC demonstrations

Police will not allow the opposition to hold protests against the electoral body on Monday.

Police spokesman George Kinoti issued the orders, saying the opposition should respect an earlier court order stopping the demonstrations.

But CORD leader Raila Odinga insisted yesterday that weekly demonstrations will resume on Monday if Jubilee will not have named its negotiating team.

“Our next course of action is obvious, yet we do not want to take the people to the streets. We hope they will not compel us to adopt the last recourse,” said Raila.

Speaking at the burial ceremony of former ODM national elections board member Henry Kathurima near Timau in Buuri, Meru County, Raila accused Jubilee of playing hide and seek in the demand of national dialogue by the opposition.

Raila said the government can entice, blackmail and threaten IEBC commissioners just like it did with the EACC team. Earlier in the day, CORD had written to the police requesting security for planned demonstrations against the Independent Electoral Boundary Commission (IEBC).

But even as the coalition gave their notice on the June 6 demonstrations, the Muslim community has pleaded with them to consider suspending the protests during the Holy Month of Ramadhan, which begins on Monday.

Led by the National Coordinator Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya Fauz Twaha, the Muslims pleaded with CORD to shelve their anti-IEBC demos as a sign of respect to Muslims. “In respect to the Muslim community and the Holy Month of Ramadhan, it would be wise for CORD to suspend their demonstration,” said Twaha.

Security arrangements

In their call, the Opposition asked Nairobi Commandant Japheth Koome to provide security to ensure citizens and leaders who will take part in the demonstrations are safe.

“We kindly request you to provide the necessary security arrangements to ensue the safety of the leaders and wananchi who will participate in the demonstration,” read the letter signed by CORD Secretariat’s Norman Magaya.

It added: “Your co-operation towards making the demonstration a success will be highly appreciated.”

In the letter dated June 2 and also copied to the Nairobi OCPD, CORD said the demonstrations will be peaceful andthat it will deploy their own peace marshals to ensure the police have an easy job keeping the peace. “The coalition has made arrangements for peace marshals who will guide and manage protesters,” reads the letter.

The Opposition has held three demonstrations in Nairobi demanding that the IEBC commissioners leave office.