Cord leaders meet to plan fresh tactics

Cord MPs and senators on Sunday evening began a two-day retreat in Naivasha to plan how to keep President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government in check ahead of the opening of Parliament on Tuesday.

The meeting at the Great Rift Valley Lodge, is expected to sketch the future of the coalition and its parliamentary business strategy.

Also expected to be decided is whether Cord leaders Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka will join the senate or National Assembly.

Speaking on arrival, Mr Odinga declined to comment on the matter, saying the meeting would decide. “The matter is subject to deliberations that will be going on,” he said.

A proposal to have some MPs step down for Mr Odinga and Mr Kalonzo has been mooted.

Responsible manner

Mr Odinga said they would talk about several other matters including Cord’s role in the Senate and Parliament as opposition.

“We want to conduct our affairs in Parliament in a responsible manner to answer the needs of our people,” said Mr Odinga.

Mr Odinga and Mr Musyoka agreed at a meeting with President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto on Saturday to attend the opening of Parliament.

On Sunday, Cord management board co-chairman Dalmas Otieno said the retreat was a house-keeping meeting to put things in order ahead of the parliamentary business.

“This is an in-house meeting to consult on a number of issues as a family,” Mr Otieno said.

The MPs and senators are expected to decide on the leader of minority in both Houses and their chief whips.