Close to twenty-four hours after the President and the Chief Opposition Leader Raila Odinga took their first steps to break IEBC impasse,the Cord Leadears Raila Odinga and Moses Wetangula asserted that they will name their representatives who are expected to join their counterparts from the government side to start talks on IEBC standoff.
The Opposition Coalition held a parallel Madaraka Day Rally at Uhuru Park to that at Afraha stadium in Nakuru.This was a rally of its kind since it was held during the 53rd celebration of Madaraka Day. The reformation of IEBC came centre stage as the coalition stated that it will form a committee to have dialogue with the Jubilee Government. The chief opposition leader had stated should the dialogue fail they will head back to the Anniversary Towers to remove the IEBC commissioners from office.
On a separate event, President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy accused the opposition of attempting to use shortcut and not constitution in removing IEBC Commisioners.The two Cord Principals have said they will not settle for a parliamentary process in seeking solution to the impasse.
Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula said CORD’s desire for talks is as a result of patriotism, not weakness. Wetang’ula said they will not “allow someone to sit somewhere and decide who the commissioners will be”.
Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who addressed the crowds by phone from China, said Kenyans will not accept an election that is not free and fair.
They also stated that they did not attend the Madaraka Day Celebrations in Nakuru because President Uhuru’s invite was issued too late after they had already completed plans for their Uhuru Park Rally.
Though the two leading Political Outfits are set to have dialogue before CORD‘s deadline on Sunday, only time will tell if this IEBC standoff will come to an end.
Police fired teargas to disperse opposition supporters at the end of a rally and it was not immediately clear what prompted the action as the rally had been approved.