Raila Odinga's consistent demands about reforming elections

Azimio principles Kalonzo Musyoka, Raila Odinga and Martha Karua during a press briefing. [Samson Wire, Standard] All mass protests led by Raila Odinga since 2007 have one common thread; pushing for changes at the electoral body or the removal of the commissioners following alleged rigging of election results. And since 2013, Raila has used both the judicial and political approaches to challenge the results with the latter option blowing up into mass protests often with deadly consequences. In 2007, Raila said he won the election against President Mwai Kibaki who had been declared the winner by the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) chairman Samuel Kivuitu. He refused to petition against the results, arguing that courts at the time weren't competent and independent enough to resolve the election dispute. "It is not a legal matter, but a political one which must be dealt with as such," said Raila, calling the prospect of challenging the result a waste of time. He called for countrywide demonstrations which in parts of the country morphed into violence that led to the death of over 1,100 people and massive destruction of property. The international community and neighbouring countries had to intervene through a process mediated by the African Union. Raila then signed a power sharing pact that created a government of national unity with President Mwai Kibaki after protracted talks held at Serena Hotel chaired by Kofi Annan, President Benjamin Mkapa and Graca Marchel. He took up the position of Prime Minister in the 50:50 government. His protests against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) began after the 2013 elections and have since then escalated with the onslaught mounting before 2017 and then going a notch higher after the recent 2022 disputed polls won by President William Ruto. In June 2016, Raila and Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leaders Moses Wetang'ula and James Orengo led protestors to the IEBC headquarters at Anniversary Towers. Raila and his CORD brigade had earlier in the year called for protests to demand the disbandment of the IEBC and removal of chairman Ahmed Issack Hassan ahead of the 2017 General Election. Like the current scenario, the protests were to go on every Monday for weeks although they were also called off temporarily to give dialogue a chance through the intervention of the Catholic church and other mainstream religious groups. During the June 2016 protests at the IEBC offices, police watched from distance as the protestors shouted slogans along University Way and left peacefully without any incident. Raila and his team had taken to the streets after the High Court declined to stop the protests against the IEBC and, instead ordered police to provide them with security. In his ruling, Justice Joseph Onguto said Cord leaders and the demonstrators were exercising their democratic right under section 37 of the Constitution which allowed them to picket and demonstrate. He said the constitution allows every person has the right, peaceably and unarmed to assemble, demonstrate, picket and to present petitions to public authorities. His ruling was made in a case that was filed by the then Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria who is now a Cabinet Secretary and four other Jubilee Mps who had wanted the protests stopped. The peaceful protests were in stark contrast to similar demos in April 2016 by the then Cord land his co-principals who were forced to retreat under heavy teargas fire after police violently dispersed them leading to running battles with rowdy protesters on the streets. This time, Azimio leaders have protested against police brutality after the Inspector General of Police Japeth Koome declared them illegal despite being notified as required by the law. In 2017, Raila again hit the streets after the Supreme Court nullified President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election but he decided to boycott the repeat polls demanding for the reconstitution of an independent commission to oversee the fresh polls. He argued that IEBC could not be trusted because the court had faulted the commission for irregularities that led to the nullification of the elections. Because of the protests, Uhuru won without opposition as many voters especially in Cord strongholds stayed away leading to a very low voter turnout. As is the case now with the Monday and Thursday demos that were called off a week ago, Raila thereafter briefly called for daily protests to give dialogue a chance. To put more pressure on Uhuru and Jubilee, the National Super Alliance (NASA) leaders announced the formation of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and also asked supporters to boycott products from some businesses. That is the same campaign that has again been launched against the Ruto administration through a youth resistance movement called the Movement for Defence of Democracy (MDD). He launched it in February at the Kamukunji grounds in Kibra where the ODM party leader accused the President Ruto of governing in absolute contempt of the people and the country's institutions without fulfilling his campaign promises. "We launch a campaign of defiance, peaceful picketing, peaceful protests, boycotts, strikes, disobedience, peaceful petitions, peaceful sit ins and peaceful demonstrations and it begins now," said Raila during the launch. He again like in 2017 announced the boycott of telecommunications company products and other service providers that were allegedly illegally supporting the government. In January 2018, Raila was sworn in as the People's President at a charged ceremony in Uhuru Park after repeatedly rejecting to recognise Uhuru as the president. He has again refused to recognise Ruto as president, with his Azimio allies led by Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua continuing to chant "Ruto Must Go, Ruto Must Go" at their rallies and mass protests. Following months of grandstanding and trading insults publicly, President Uhuru and Raila finally struck a peace deal and announced a truce on March 9, 2018 in what is now known as the Handshake. Fast forward to the current standoff in 2022 and the opposition leader is again in his element rallying large crowds to demonstrate in Nairobi and other ODM strongholds. Like in 2016 and 2017, the demonstrations have turned violent in some areas, leading to the loss of life among civilians and police officers during riots. Like in 2013 when he disagreed with the court ruling that rejected his petition, Raila has called for nationwide protests every week after disagreeing with the verdict of the Supreme Court that upheld Ruto's election. Key grievances as listed by Raila and the opposition include conducting a forensic review of the IEBC servers and reconstituting an all-inclusive process of recruiting IEBC Commissioners. They have also called for the reinstatement of the 'Cherera Four' commissioners who resigned after they were accused of attempting to subvert the will of the people before election results were announced. Raila also wants party-hopping MPs he claims were bribed to join Kenya Kwanza to resign and seek a fresh mandate and the government to also come up with measures to reduce the cost of living. As happened in past demos and protests, Raila has again shown that he is open to dialogue by calling off the protests after leading the violent confrontation with police for two weeks. Current efforts by foreign missions rekindle memories of the mediation process that ended the 2007-2008 post-election violence. Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan was the chief mediator in the violent aftermath of the 2007 election. During his protests after each election, Raila has also managed to create a crisis whose impact has drawn in international partners like the US, the UK and the European Union countries to help resolve the problem. US Senator Chris Coons has come to Kenya several times after each election cycle to pacify Raila and consecutive governments. Over a week ago, Raila met Coons with other Azimio principals and tweeted that they held a fruitful discussion on the importance of upholding the Constitution and the rule of law and agreed to keep the channels of communication open. Coons, an ally of President Joe Biden, played a big role during the 2008 mediation between Kibaki and Raila and again returned in 2018 before the Uhuru and Raila handshake. Both opposition and government leaders have in the past criticised the involvement of foreign governments in resolving political disputes in the country. Because of the Raila led riots, western countries have in the past issued travel alerts cautioning their citizens against traveling to some parts of the country. In 2016, the US embassy updated its citizens in the country that police had fired tear gas to disperse supporters of the opposition outside Anniversary Towers. As recently as September 26, 2022, some foreign missions again cautioned people to avoid some parts of Nairobi after protesters jammed Uhuru Highway to protest the interdiction of IEBC deputy CEO Ruth Kulundu. "Further clashes between police forces and protesters are possible. The protest action and security personnel response will likely result in ground travel and business operation disruptions," it said in a statement. One area that has never been spared destruction during the mayhem is Raila's home city of Kisumu, where the demonstrators always become rowdy leading to deaths, breaking into shops, looting and destruction of property. Raila's history of leading demonstrations can however be traced back to July 7, 1997 when he together with Charles Rubia and Kenneth Matiba led Kenyans in widespread demonstrations in Nairobi. That was after the civil society and politicians opposed to the Moi regime called rallies to pressure the government into repealing section 2A of the Constitution to allow a return to multiparty democracy. The rallies turned ugly when protestors became rowdy by attacking motorists, burning tyres and looting shops. The chaos was triggered by the actions of anti-riot police who stormed All Saints Cathedral where some opposition MPs had gone for prayers. Raila, Matiba and Rubia were arrested and detained for leading the demonstrations but continued to fight for change after they were released. Raila thereafter raised other issues ranging from electoral reforms that led to the return of multipartism. He has successfully petitioned the removal of several chairmen at the electoral commission over alleged elections malpractices.

Raila Odinga's consistent demands about reforming elections

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