Raila asks for dialogue with Uhuru over IEBC

Cord leader Raila Odinga on Tuesday called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders with a view to reconstituting the electoral commission.

Mr Odinga said Cord was committed to participating in such talks to discuss how to establish a new-look Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to preside over the next general election.

A formal invitation to President Kenyatta to initiate the talks was due to be sent out later in the day, Mr Odinga’s office told the Nation.

“A communication to the president is being worked on; we want a process that involves all stakeholders so that we discuss ways of reconstituting the IEBC,” Mr Odinga said when asked if Cord had considered engaging Mr Kenyatta over reforms at the electoral commission.

“Cord is committed to entering into a dialogue on the way forward to establish and reconstitute the IEBC. The discussions should be open to all stakeholders including civil society and other non-state actors,” said Mr Odinga, flanked by senators James Orengo (Siaya) and Johnson Muthama (Machakos) as well as Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo.

CRITICISED IEBC

“As a coalition of political parties we know our role under the Constitution, the Political Parties Act and the Elections Act and we do not need lectures from the discredited commissioners of IEBC, including the chairman,” he added.

“It is foolhardy and childish to say that IEBC will ban Cord from participating in elections. That is brinkmanship, megalomania or childish petulance. It is an abuse of constitutional mandate and responsibility,” he went on in a stinging criticism of IEBC chairman Issack Hassan’s recent threat to institute legal action against the opposition coalition’s leaders and their supporters for storming the commission’s headquarters at Anniversary Towers.

Mr Odinga said Cord did not intend to impose on Kenyans its views regarding the IEBC and would prefer an all-inclusive process of reforming the electoral commission.

“The role, competence and integrity of a legitimate electoral body are at the centre of the process of formation of government. The conduct and ability of IEBC cannot therefore be left to elites within the political class. That has mutated the commission to an electoral mongrel and appendage of the executive. Elections are serious business,” he said.

The commissioners have, meanwhile, maintained that they will not vacate office unless and until Mr Odinga provides evidence that they are colluding to rig the next election in favour of President Kenyatta.

They have, however, indicated that they are ready to engage Cord leaders in a structured manner.

WEEKLY PROTESTS

But even as he called for a dialogue, Mr Odinga maintained that the demonstrations would proceed every Monday until the commissioners vacate office.

“We therefore today give notice that unless the IEBC commissioners vacate office now or immediately and unless there is established an inclusive mechanism for structured dialogue put in place, again, immediately we will continue to organise demonstrations and protest rallies countrywide on every succeeding Monday until our conditions are met,” he declared.

He displayed two spent cartridges that he claimed the police fired at the peaceful Cord supporters.

“Some of our people may have sustained injuries as a result of the live bullets and the tear gas that police fired but nobody must give up. We must soldier on,” he said.

He called on Cord supporters to ensure that the protests are peaceful and announced that henceforth, the protesters would carry white handkerchiefs to symbolise peace.