The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) has made un-expected announcement that leaves many breathing a sigh of relief after the principals have decided to call off all Monday-slated anti-IEBC demonstrations.
On Wednesday, CORD announced that the move was meant to give dialogue a chance. The principal however said that the decision was not permanent for they “will give the Jubilee government until June 5th to respond” to their demands failure to which they will return to the streets.
Earlier, the Former Prime Minister Raila Ondiga said that he had written to the sitting president, Uhuru Kenyatta requesting for a dialogue but they demands were “rubbished”.
Siaya senator James Orengo in a press briefing announced that already CORD has a team which will oversee the dialogue process as he called for structured system of dialogue that is not led by parliamentary committee.
This comes a few days after church leaders and international community requested for a dialogue to solve the burning issue in order to avoid incidences like those witnessed on Monday 23rd where three people died as a result of demonstrations with others hospitalized due to injuries during the chaotic incidences.
Orengo said they had taken the decision following calls by the international community to give dialogue a chance with the coalition stating that it would instead spend their time next week to pursue peace and justice through prayers and comfort victims of last protests.
“We shall hold forums to condole with bereaved and comfort those who were wounded in the last protests,” said Orengo.
On Monday, CORD principals had stated that they would press on with the protests every Monday until IEBC commissioners vacate office as they claimed IEBC commissioners are colluding with Jubilee to rig President Uhuru Kenyatta back into office during the 2017 elections but the commission chair Issack Hassan refuted the allegations.
Speaking last week, President Kenyatta termed CORD’s protests as insignificant saying they are an outdated model of seeking solutions.
“It is a shame to see people the age of our fathers sitting on the road every week in the name of pushing for the disbandment of IEBC.”
“They should know that I have no powers to disband the IEBC. Those powers, which were presence during former President Daniel Moi were scrapped with the entrance of the new Constitution,” he said during his visit of North Eastern.