President Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila Odinga dig in over IEBC demos as GEMA draws line

GEMA businessmen led by Chairman Wilfred Kamau(R), Harun Kimani(L) and Geoffrey Muya addresses a press conference at Sacred Hotel in Nairobi on Friday 20/05/16 condemned CORD demonstration against IEBC calming destruction of their businesses. PHOTO.BONIFACE OKENDO

The push by CORD to send electoral agency commissioners home threatens to turn nasty as leaders tear into each other over the matter.

As the business community in Nairobi issued demands and threats, President Kenyatta remained unmoved on how to reoganise IEBC while CORD leader Raila Odinga insisted the protests would continue.

Speaking in Wajir yesterday, the President asked Opposition leaders not to waste their energies on confrontational politics. “It is time leaders engaged on matters of development. Kenya cannot develop through confrontations or politics of division,” said President Kenyatta.

The President, who was accompanied by his deputy William Ruto, said Jubilee was ready to work with all leaders irrespective of their political affiliations. “I want to make it clear that the government is committed to serving all Kenyans irrespective of their affiliations,” he said. But speaking to The Standard on Saturday from South Africa, Raila was adamant the protests would go on until a political deal is reached.

“This is a political process and must be negotiated among parties involved, including those outside Parliament. Parliament is the final stage in terms of legislation, otherwise why does the Cabinet approve the budget before it is brought before Parliament?” Raila said.

“Parliament implements political agenda which must come from political parties,” said Raila. (See separate story). This happened even as sections of the business community issued a demand of up Sh100 million from CORD. They also called for an end to the protests. The demands were issued by members of Gikuyu, Embu and Meru Association (Gema), which also said failure to honour the demands would see them engage anti-IEBC protestors in the streets of Nairobi on Monday.

In a statement read on their behalf by Gema chairman (Nairobi Branch) Wilfred Kamau Gathigi, the group accused CORD supporters of allegedly destroying their investments. They a two-day ultimatum within which CORD is required to honour a Sh100 million compensation demand by investors alleged to have been affected by the protests.

“In light of this, we Gema Nairobi Branch are demanding that CORD takes responsibility and pays the amount of more than Sh100 million being demanded by aggrieved parties before Monday May 23, 2016, failure to which we will meet them on the streets one on one come Monday,” reads their statement.

Starehe MP Maina Kamanda later told The Standard on Saturday that the said business community that suffered losses on Monday has since recorded statements with the police and will soon be moving to court to seek compensation from CORD.

“Truth be told, business people have indeed suffered. We have recorded statements with the police and we will take Raila Odinga to court so that he can take personal responsibility for these unwarranted losses. We shall pursue all legal mechanisms to secure justice. We are also telling the government to protect our people failure to which we shall tell our people to protect themselves,” he said.

Ruto said the government would not tolerate lawlessness. “We are ready to work with all leaders in uniting the country but will not tolerate violence and any attempts to disregard the Constitution,” he said.

Sealed fate

Former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka told Jubilee administration that it was also in the government’s best interest to send home IEBC commissioners, adding that CORD was firm in its resolve.

“Today, we have said the fate of IEBC is sealed. It is also in the best interest of Jubilee to have a commission that’s not tainted,” he said.

Leader of the Majority in Parliament Aden Duale said whereas the business community was justified in their demands, it would be inappropriate to resort to street actions.

“The business community is genuine in their demands because they have seriously lost in terms of time and destruction of property. I however urge them to let the matter be handled by relevant authorities. The office of Inspector General of Police is obligated to protect the life and property of every Kenyan,” he said.

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria said: “I want to appeal to the business community to remain calm despite the provocation and aggression by CORD demonstrations. Let’s leave the matter to the competent office of the Inspector General of Police because I have received an assurance from him that no one will be allowed to the Central Business District in the name of protests.”

On Thursday, Senators James Orengo and Johnstone Muthama said the planned protests will proceed. Last Monday’s protests left several protesters injured.

CORD has blamed the bloody confrontation on police and has reportedly written to the Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko to probe Inspector General of Police.

Legislator Junnet Mohammed said: “CORD is not going to listen to any ultimatums. The duty of protecting the lives and property of Kenyans lies with the National Police Service. The main agenda of CORD is peaceful demonstrations which will go on. Any other person with a different agenda is not part of us and the police should take note.”

Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a accused CORD of what she termed an “outright act of overthrowing the Constitution”.

“This is disobedience of the law. CORD whose leader campaigned for the Constitution doesn’t want to respect it. He wants the Constitution replaced by mazungumzo (negotiations). Why can’t we have mazungumzo on Tunoi or Judicial Service Commission or the Office of the Auditor General? CORD is using the right to assembly to advance criminal intentions of overthrowing the Constitution,” she said.