Cord to hold 12 meetings countrywide ahead of Saba Saba rally
Cord Leaders from left, Anyang Nyongo, Kalonzo Musyoka, Raila Odinga and Moses Wetangula at a press conference at Orange House in Nairobi on the June 3,2014. PHOTO/EVANS HABIL
What you need to know:
- The rallies that will kick off from Migori town this Friday would just be curtain raisers to the Saba Saba event
- The schedule has excluded central province but included Uasin Gishu County
Cord has released its program for countrywide meetings ahead of the Saba Saba rally to be held at the Kamukunji grounds in Nairobi on July 7.
The head of Cord Secretariat Norman Magaya Tuesday said the rallies would be used to consult the citizens on a number of national issues the coalition has been raising.
“This will not be ordinary rallies-the Cord leadership will be consulting the citizens directly given that attempts to press for an all-inclusive dialogue has failed,” Mr Magaya stated.
He said the rallies that will kick off from Migori town this Friday, would just be curtain raisers to the Saba Saba event.
“We have already asked police to provide security for these rallies. They will be peaceful events to be used by our leaders to engage the people,”Mr Magaya stated.
The schedule has excluded central province but included Uasin Gishu County where the opposition has planned their rally on June 28.
Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago last week warned Cord leaders against holding rallies in the county cautioning that his government will not allow it.
Last week Kiambu governor William Kabogo also warned Cord leaders against using the rallies to insult President Uhuru Kenyatta. He said Cord will not be allowed to hold its meeting in Kiambu.
Mr Magaya said: “The law is clear no one can stop us from holding rallies in this country. This will be peaceful events and we are shocked that some leaders want to cause unnecessary alarm over this.”
Mombasa governor Ali Hassan Joho on Tuesday said plans for the Tonoka rally to be held in Mombasa on Sunday are on.
The coalition will be in Kisii on June 20, Kakamega June 21, Nakuru June 22, Garissa June 25, Eldoret June 28, Kisumu July 5 and Machakos on July 6.
The opposition leaders had last month threatened to hold rallies around the country if the government declined a request to hold dialogue on “fundamental” issues affecting Kenyans.
“We are saying that July 7 on Saba Saba day and I am asking Hon Raila to confirm that if you do not agree to hold national dialogue they will go home,” former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka said.
The rallies began on May 31 after the home-coming event organized to welcome Cord leader Raila Odinga back home after a lengthy tour of the US.
On Saturday Mr Odinga met Nairobi leaders who have been tasked to organise the Saba Saba event in the city.
It is still unclear whether police will allow the rallies to proceed.
