Raila to seek answers over fate of Okoa Kenya

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at the burial of Elder Michael Odote Kojiem in Kisumu on February 6, 2016. He said IEBC must verify the signatures by February 9, 2016 without fail. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • He said they presented the Bill alongside 1.4 million signatures on November 9, 2015 and the 90 day deadline end on Tuesday.
  • Mr Hassan said that the Constitution does not set specific timelines within which the Commission must verify the signatures.
  • Politicians from Kisumu County told the mourners to welcome President Uhuru Kenyatta to Kisumu for the official opening of the Seventh Day Adventists’ Western Kenya Union Conference headquarters at Mamboleo.

Cord leader Raila Odinga said he will on Thursday lead politicians from his coalition to go the electoral commission offices to seek answers on verification of Okoa Kenya signatures.

He said the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) must verify the signatures by Tuesday without fail.

Mr Odinga, on Saturday, said failure by the commission to do so will lead to unspecified consequences.

The opposition chief said they will not take the push for constitutional amendment lightly.

“We are coming on Thursday to get answers on progress of Okoa Kenya signatures. If the electoral commission does not have the answers, we will take the Bill to the county assemblies on our own,” Mr Odinga said.

He said they presented the Bill alongside 1.4 million signatures on November 9, 2015 and the 90 day deadline end on Tuesday.

“The deadline expires on February 9, 2016. Two days after the expiry, we will be at the commission’s offices. If we don’t get the answers, we will take other measures which we cannot reveal now,” Mr Odinga said.

He spoke in Nyando Constituency during the burial of Mr Michael Odote Ojiem, a member of the Luo Council of Elders.

In what he termed the Kisumu declaration, he said the electoral commission must not allow themselves to be used to frustrate the referendum.

“We heard that they have just started the verification process. But we want to tell them from here in Kisumu that we have a date that they must keep. We took up Okoa Kenya to mend issues before the next election,” he said.

“We are law-abiding citizens and we don’t want to take measures that will jeopardise the peace of this country,” Mr Odinga told hundreds of mourners who gathered at Boya Primary School grounds.

PETITION
But in a statement to the press, electoral commission Chairman Issack Hassan called for “restraint from premature, alarmist or erroneous statements that could generate undue public excitement”.

Mr Hassan said that the Constitution does not set specific timelines within which the Commission must verify the signatures.

“As a matter of fact, time will start running upon the conclusion of the verification of the signatures and presentation of the Bill to the County Assemblies.”

On voter registration, Mr Odinga said there will be no extension. He asked the people to come out in large numbers to register as voters to see if they can overcome Jubilee’s tyranny of numbers.

Mr Silvance Osele, Kabondo Kasipul MP called for a review of the 2013 Presidential election petition in case Justice Philip Tunoi is found guilty of receiving a bribe to rule in favour of Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero.

Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu has called for a review of the petition pitting him against Dr Kidero.

“We also want answers on the case of Mr Odinga which was decided by the same court,” Mr Osele said.

Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o said attempts to dismantle devolution must be stopped and asked the people to vote in a government led by Mr Odinga, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka and Mr Moses Wetang’ula.

Politicians from Kisumu County told the mourners to welcome President Uhuru Kenyatta to Kisumu for the official opening of the Seventh Day Adventists’ Western Kenya Union Conference headquarters at Mamboleo.

He will be accompanied by Deputy President William Ruto.

Ms Ruth Odinga, deputy governor Kisumu, said they appreciated the concern of the President through the visits but want more serious development.

Nominated Senator Joy Gwendo appealed to the residents to turn up in their numbers today and welcome the President and his deputy as they visit Kisumu.

“Such frequent visits of the President to Kisumu has shown that local residents have embraced the Jubilee government.