Jubilee claims CORD rallies meant to incite public

Nairobi, Kenya: Jubilee MPs now claim that nationwide rallies planned by CORD will incite the public against President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration.

Majority leaders Aden Duale (National Assembly) and Kithure Kindiki (Senate) alleged that CORD wants to seize power by unconstitutional means, and warned the Opposition that the Jubilee government would counter their scheme.

CORD, re-energised by the return of its leader and co-Principal Raila Odinga on Saturday, has made demands, including convening of a national dialogue conference on July 7, a date popular with Saba Saba reform crusade, and reconstitution of the electoral body.

Kindiki said the Government would not be intimidated by the Opposition, which he described as living in the past and challenged CORD to present Bills in Parliament to address national challenges.

“The Opposition must know that they have a role to drive their agenda in Parliament and not through public rallies that may serve to ignite ethnic animosity among Kenyans,” Kindiki said.

Duale claimed the Opposition does not have the interests of Kenya at heart. “We can respond accordingly, but for now Kenyans have given us the mandate to manage the affairs of this country. Elections are over and CORD should wait for 2017,” he said.

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen said the waving of foreign flags at CORD’s rally in Uhuru Park reinforced the perception of a foreign hand in the Opposition crusade against Government.

Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi claimed the Opposition was being dishonest about the motive of their planned nationwide rallies.

Nairobi Senator Mike Mbuvi said: “We are urging our brothers in the Opposition to stop fueling ethnic animosity. Some of the leaders talking ill of the President are the same ones who were involved in corrupt deals in the past government.”

Baringo North MP William Cheptumo added: “There must be some level of honesty in our leaders. I think there is more than meets the eye in the criticism. It’s not true that Cabinet and principal secretaries’ positions have been shared by only two communities.” Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa claimed Opposition leaders were being used by foreign masters to destablise the Government.

“We know what Raila went to do in the US and who are our enemies are,” Ichung’wa claimed while Kangogo Bowen (Marakwet East) said there is no leadership vacuum.

Nominated Senator Martha Wangari claimed the US was supporting CORD. Chesumei MP Elijah Lagat claimed the West is using Raila in a move to monopolise the Kenyan market as before.

Wrong direction

Nakuru Senator James Mungai urged the Opposition to accept defeat and allow the Jubilee government to serve Kenyans.

Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama, elected through ODM ticket, said the call for national dialogue within 60 days by CORD was ‘hot air’ saying he supports the Government. Governor William Kabogo dared CORD leaders to insult the President while in Kiambu County. Kabogo claimed Raila’s mission is to destabilise the country and make it ungovernable.

Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua accused CORD of attempting to capture power through the back door.

However, a section of Gusii leaders supported CORD’s call for a national dialogue with the Jubilee administration. They said dialogue would foster unity and development of the nation.

Speaking to The Standard the leaders faulted Jubilee politicians opposed to the national dialogue call by Raila and accused them of misleading Kenyans on the matter.

Nyamira Governor John Nyagarama urged Jubilee and CORD leaders to interact positively so as to move the country forward.

“We are just from elections. We cannot keep quarreling all the time. CORD should be allowed to raise issues affecting the country and Jubilee should not look at it from the political angle,” he said.

Dagoreti MP Simba Arati said the nation was headed in the wrong direction and it was only through dialogue that President Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto can get back on track. “They are not even implementing the manifesto they tirelessly sold to Kenyans. They are failing and CORD is very much concerned,” he said.

—Additional reporting by Brigid Chemweno, Isaac Meso, Michael Ollinga, Antony Gitonga, Rawlings Otieno and Naftal Makori