CORD calls on supporters to protest against election laws

Opposition MPs Mishi Mboko, Aisha Mwajuma and Gladys Wanga demonstrate along Nairobi streets, yesterday as they headed to the Milimani Law Courts after they disagreed in Parliament over the controversial election amendments laws. [PHOTO: BONIFACE OKENDO/Standard]

Opposition chiefs have called for peaceful street protests against amendments to the election laws passed by Jubilee MPs yesterday.

CORD leaders Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula said the Jubilee administration had voluntarily forced them back to the streets.

Hours after the amendments were passed, Opposition chiefs met and vowed that come January 4, 2017, they would be back to the streets in mass action protests.

“We have consulted and come to the conclusion that the Jubilee administration does not want Kenyans to enjoy peaceful Christmas. They have now invited us back to the streets and we welcome their invitation,” said Mr Kalonzo.

The Wiper Party leader said the Jubilee administration had shown high level of impunity and intolerance in the manner in which they passed the amendments.

Kalonzo told President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto, not to be afraid of electronic identification of voters if they are popular.

“We have no option but to go back to the streets for peaceful mass action. Mass protest is a constitutional right and lawful,” said Kalonzo.

EXCUSE FOR CHANGES

Raila accused Jubilee of undermining gains made through a bipartisan approach by the Joint Select Parliamentary Committee that was co-chaired by senators James Orengo (Siaya) and Kiraitu Murungi (Meru).

The ODM party leader questioned why it was only the Jubilee side of the political divide that had a problem with the laws, and goes ahead to use force in effecting changes to the same.

He said such countries as Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Namibia and even Tanzania have used biometrics to make their registers and they yet share similar characteristics with regards to electricity and rural populations that Jubilee is using as excuse for the changes.

He said Nigeria registered 73.5 million voters in 23 days, Ghana did 11 million people in 40 days while India registered 863,000,000 million voters with one million Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits in three months.

“Jubilee members are used to rigging and resurrecting the dead to vote. We have agreed that if we lose, we shall concede but they should also accept that they can be defeated and should concede if that happens,” said Raila.

“We want to tell Ruto and Uhuru that Kenya does not belong to them alone but to all Kenyans. We don’t want war but peace. No transparency, no elections,” said Raila.