Orengo says Cord did not cede too much ground in IEBC talks

Cord co-principal Moses Wetangula (centre) receiving report of the Joint Select Committee on electoral reforms from co-chairs James Orengo (right) and Kiraitu Murungi at Parliament Buildings on August 18, 2016. Mr Orengo has dismissed claims that it ceded too much ground to Jubilee coalition in the electoral reform talks. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Cord said it had achieved all it wanted in the talks by the joint Parliamentary Select Committee on the IEBC.
  • Prior to the talks, the opposition had lined up pre-conditions for the talks to take place.
  • Some Cord supporters feel they were sold out due to failure by its negotiators to hammer a deal that would have seen a new voters register set up.
  • Cord had gone to the talks demanding a completely new voters’ register, while Jubilee had said that the current one should be retained.

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) has dismissed claims that it ceded too much ground to Jubilee coalition in the electoral reform talks.

Cord said it had achieved all it wanted in the talks by the joint Parliamentary Select Committee on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Siaya Senator James Orengo, who co-chaired the talks with his Meru counterpart Kiraitu Murungi, said that Cord had come out of the talks with a new register and participation of political parties in the scrutiny of the IEBC.

Mr Orengo’s comments come in the wake of claims within Cord that they could have ceded too much ground in the negotiations.

CORD WON

In a statement to newsrooms, Mr Orengo said that the provision by the select committee for a verification of biometric data at polling stations, audit of the register cross-checked with data from the National Registration Bureau and the maintenance of one register means they had won.

“The totality of these statutory requirements means there will be a fresh register of voters.

“It is goodbye to dead voters, double voters and registration of ineligible voters,” Mr Orengo declared.

Prior to the talks, the opposition had lined up pre-conditions for the talks to take place.

Some Cord supporters feel they were sold out due to failure by its negotiators to hammer a deal that would have seen a new voters register set up.

Instructively, they also had their way in a number of ways with Jubilee having to reduce its representatives to seven down from 11 as well as having joint chairs, one from Jubilee and one from Cord.

“Cord’s pathway to electoral victory has been safeguarded now and protected by a revolutionary change of the election laws that constitutes both a qualitative and quantitative leap in the electoral system,” Mr Orengo said in a terse, hard-hitting statement.

The Siaya senator was chosen to lead the talks, ostensibly because he is an old hand. He is also ally of cord leader Raila Odinga.

Mr Orengo had also been participating in the weekly anti-IEBC protests that demanded the exit of the nine commissioners.

The 14-member select team was chosen from the two leading coalitions to iron contentious issues.

There are reports that Mr Junet Mohamed, one of the Cord negotiators, stormed out of one of the final sessions to protest the state of affairs.

Mr Orengo Saturday said that those saying Cord had lost, were “locked in darkness of cynicism and scepticism.”

“You hypocrites! You unbelievers! The Report and Draft Bills are as a result of hard negotiations carried out in the backdrop of great sacrifices and heroic struggles of our people who died for freedom,” said Mr Orengo.

Cord had gone to the talks demanding a completely new voters’ register, while Jubilee had said that the current one should be retained.