Protest as judge stops Cord push for mass action

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his co-principals in the Cord Coalition have been stopped from calling for mass action during their Saba Saba rally scheduled for Monday in Nairobi.

And, in the event that Mr Odinga and his co-principals, former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula, defy the court order and call for mass action leading to chaos during the rally, the court ruled that they will be personally held liable for the consequences.

Mr Justice Isaac Lenaola, however, declined to stop the rally as requested through an application by Nairobi Senator Gideon Mbuvi Sonko, but warned the Cord leaders not to use the forum to incite the public to violence or interfere with those not attending the rally.

“The public meeting organised by the coalition on July 7 shall proceed as planned during which they shall exercise their rights to assemble peacefully without being armed and without any defamatory rhetoric or disturbing activities of those not attending the rally,” ruled Mr Justice Lenaola.

JULY 7 NOT A HOLIDAY

Mr Justice Lenaola further allowed a consent by lawyers representing both parties that July 7 (Saba Saba) is not prescribed as a public holiday and any calls by the Cord principals declaring the day a public holiday are null and void.

However, he did not specify the consequences the Cord leaders will face if they defy the court order, saying that he will make a decision if that happens.

In declining to stop the much publicised rally, Mr Justice Lenaola said that it was the coalition’s constitutional right to assemble and that the court can only interfere if the rally poses a real threat to the country’s security.

The former PM has held rallies in other towns in what the Cord Coalition claims are consultative meetings with the people to pressure the government to call for a national dialogue to discuss problems facing the country.

Cord has been pushing for talks over corruption, tribalism in public appointments, insecurity, high cost of living and restructuring of the electoral commission, among other grievances.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Jubilee Coalition Government have, however, ruled out dialogue with the Opposition, arguing that their grievances could be addressed by established constitutional institutions.

The Nairobi senator went to court through lawyer Harrison Kinyanjui seeking to stop the Saba Saba rally, arguing that Cord politicians could use it to incite members of the public to ethnic violence as allegedly witnessed from their speeches in rallies they have held in other towns.

“The contents of speeches and demands being issued at the rallies can only be discussed through duly constituted institutions.

The court has a duty to stop the rallies which are a threat to promotion of right of freedom,” said Mr Kinyanjui.

Mr Mbuvi swore that it was unlawful for the former PM to declare July 7 a public holiday, saying it is only the constitution and the President with such powers.

“The threat of inciting citizens to abandon their work and stage mass action on July 7 and the declaration that the day will be a public holiday is a violation of the constitution which prohibits any other person from exercising State authority,” he said.

ALLEGED INCITEMENT

He argued that the alleged incitement and hate speeches uttered at the rallies were creating ethnic tension which has resulted in loss of life, destruction of property and eviction of some communities from certain places.

The senator added that Interior Minister Joseph ole Lenku and Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo had failed to stop Cord from holding the rallies and it was only through a court order that they can be stopped.

“Unless the court intervenes, the rallies and the statements made will continue to infringe on the people’s right to life and more so threaten to overthrow a duly elected government,” the senator swore.

Mr Justice Lenaola also allowed the Nairobi senator’s request to advertise the orders in newspapers and through local radio stations to notify the Cord luminaries.