Hope for talks fades as rival parties dig in heels

Prospects for talks on reforming the electoral commission appeared uncertain on Wednesday as government and opposition leaders retreated to their hardline positions only hours after what appeared to be a truce on the matter.

President Uhuru Kenyatta addressed the nation from Afraha Stadium in Nakuru while Cord leaders Raila Odinga and Moses Wetang’ula led the Opposition in a parallel Madaraka Day rally at Nairobi’s Uhuru Park.

Cord said on Wednesday it and Jubilee are each expected to provide five members to a team to initiate talks on the electoral commission impasse.

Mr Odinga said the Opposition will on Thursday name their team to lead the talks.

However, opposition insiders on Wednesday night said there were still some arguments on whether the nominees should be MPs or technocrats and a final decision is expected this morning.

However, a statement from State House on Wednesday evening indicated that no such agreement had been struck as it would have been “inconsistent with President Kenyatta’s stand”, which is that any discussions on the IEBC or any other constitutional body must be done within the confines of the law.

Only on Wednesday, the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee of the National Assembly announced that it would invite Kenyans to present their views and recommendations on the IEBC and other electoral reform issues during sittings it plans to hold across the country,” read the statement, signed by State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu.

Mr Esipisu said President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto intend to make their submissions to the parliamentary team, essentially rubbishing Cord's claims that they had agreed on the formation of a committee.

RESUME PROTESTS

“The Presidency expects that the sessions by the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee will be held in public, and that they will also be televised live so that all Kenyans can hear what anyone with any views on the subject has to say,” added Mr Esipisu.

In Nakuru, the President and Mr Ruto said the Constitution must be followed in making any changes to the IEBC, a position rejected by the Opposition, which threatened to resume protests on Monday if the talks do not start on Friday.

President Kenyatta seemed disappointed by the Opposition leaders’ failure to attend the Nakuru celebrations even after promising to do so a day earlier, saying it was an act of disrespect and a show of unnecessary defiance.

About 160 kilometres away in Nairobi, Mr Odinga responded by saying he had no problem with the invitation, but it came “too late”.

“The President yesterday invited us to the Madaraka Day event in Nakuru, but I told him the invite had come too late as we had planned our own. This is not an act of defiance,” Mr Odinga said.

The ODM leader warned that his supporters would be back in the streets next week if nothing comes out of Tuesday’s “quick” agreement with Jubilee, cobbled up after a short meeting at State House.

He said if talks fail to start on Friday, then street protests would resume on Monday next week.

“People have been saying it is me and President Kibaki who picked Hassan and his team. I say yes. But even if you have given birth to a child and later he is convicted of robbery, should I come out and say: ‘No don’t jail him?’” Mr Odinga posed.

Mr Wetang’ula warned the government of intensified street protests if talks do not start.

He said the Opposition would not tolerate dishonesty and was prepared to continue with the protests.

“We expect the talks to start on Friday. If by then Jubilee develops cold feet then we will have no option but to return to the streets,” he said.

Former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, who addressed the crowd from Beijing, China, via a telephone link, said there was no turning back, adding that their concerns must be addressed before the next elections.

NO TURNING BACK

“The IEBC, led by Ahmed Issack Hassan, must be reformed,” said Mr Musyoka. “I am in solidarity with my brothers Raila and Wetang’ula and I want to tell you that there is no turning back on this matter.”

Kanu Secretary-General Nick Salat, who also addressed the crowd, said opposition supporters should be ready for extended picketing until the battle is won.

“I want to tell Mr Ruto that Kenyans are calling for reforms at the IEBC. Please, you must listen. You must know that when Kenya broke into violence in 2008 we had a Constitution too,” Mr Salat said.

Mr Odinga told the crowd that the Opposition would on Thursday nominate five MPs to lead talks with the government.

Mr Odinga, Mr Wetang’ula and Wiper and Kanu representatives are expected to meet this morning to choose the team.

“Tomorrow (Thursday) we will announce our nominees who will work with the government on the proposed IEBC reforms,” Mr Odinga said.

However, opposition insiders last night said there arguments on whether the nominees should be MPs or technocrats and a final deal were expected this morning.

Earlier, a proposal had been made for Senators James Orengo, Johnson Muthama and Tongaren MP Eseli Simiyu to lead the talks.

Mr Odinga yesterday warned that if talks fail to start on Friday then street protests would resume on Monday next week.

The opposition leaders said all stakeholders should be given an opportunity to play a role in the reconstitution of a new electoral commission to ensure credible elections in 2017.

Mr Wetang’ula said the Opposition wanted an electioneering process that will see the installation of a tamper-proof results transmission software.

“We want fraudless elections. Once results are announced at the polling centre there should be no monkey games like has been happening,” Mr Wetang’ula said.