Cord cries foul, says judiciary has surrendered to executive

By ONESMUS NZIOKA

Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) leaders have expressed frustrations in the manner the Judiciary has handled election petitions.

The leaders have accused the high court of bias. They say the various verdicts ordering fresh elections in presumed Cord strong holds is an effort to frustrate the opposition.

Cord co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka recently led a strong delegation of Wiper legislators in castigating the court rulings that have seen a Cord governor, senator and several legislators lose their seats.

The leaders spoke in Kibwezi West constituency while drumming up support for Kalembe Ndile, and in Matungulu where Machakos senator Johnstone Muthama led another delegation to campaign for Stephen Mule.

Mr Muthama has appealed to the opposition’s supporters to vote in large numbers for its candidates in the by-elections, as a way of avenging the ‘biased rulings’ by the high courts.

Muthama wonders why despite emerging winners after vote recounts, cord legislators were declared irregularly elected.

“In Matungulu Mule was declared winner after a vote recount. Our men Kalembe Ndile, Moses Wetangula, Cornel Rasanga and Khatib Mwashetani all emerged winners but were stripped off their seats. This is an effort to frustrate us but it will leave us even stronger and more united,” said Muthama.

Muthama termed the unfavorable court verdicts as a deliberate effort by the Jubilee government to engage the opposition in endless campaigns to prevent it from strategising to topple it from power.

He said it was a diversionary tactic to accord the president and his deputy time to battle the International Criminal Court cases while keeping the opposition at arm’s length.

Taveta senator Dan Mwazo termed the rulings as a deliberate attempt by the Jubilee government to ground Cord leaders especially Kalonzo Musyoka who is a likely presidential candidate in 2017.

Kitui senator David Musila said the courts had surrendered their independence to the executive, and they were taking instructions from elsewhere.