CORD threatens to pull out of IEBC talks if MPs are not released

From left: MPs Moses Kuria, Ferninand Waititu, Timothy Bosire, Junet Muhamed, Johnstone Muthama, Florence Mutua and Aisha Jumwa at Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi when they appeared to answer to charges of hate speech. (Photo David Njaaga/Standard)

Nairobi: Coalition for Reforms and Democracy has threatened to resume street protests and pull out of talks on IEBC if detained legislators are not released.

CORD demanded the release of its MPs without charge or any other conditions, claiming that the government is targeting opposition politicians in the country.

“Kenya is sliding into a society in which the government is directly threatening opposition politicians, depriving them of freedom of speech and assembly in public and other places, as well as fabricating trumped up charges against opposition leaders,” read a statement issued by the coalition leaders.

The coalition leaders said that they would resume national demonstrations and protests on Monday, June 20 as well as cease all engagements in dialogue in respect of IEBC and instead intensify the demonstrations and protests.

 “We will declare the CORD legislators to be political prisoners and hold a public meeting and a vigil at the Freedom Corner on Saturday, June 18,” read the statement.

Consequently, they will hold a prayer service for the said political prisoners in Machakos town on Sunday June 19.