The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) has suspended its nationwide demonstrations against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), saying the move is aimed at giving dialogue a chance.
The Opposition leaders said they will use the one-week break to hold forums to condole with bereaved and comfort people who have been wounded in the demonstrations across the country.
Cord management committee co-chair and Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama said the coalition principals will lead a prayer rally at Uhuru Park in pursuit of peace, justice and dialogue.
In a letter to Nairobi County Police Commander Japheth Koome, Cord secretariat chief executive officer Norman Magaya called on the police to organise necessary security arrangements to ensure the safety of leaders and members of the public.
He said the venue has already been secured from Nairobi City County during the occasion of Madaraka Day celebrations. President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to lead the country in marking the National Day at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru County the same day. “I call on our supporters in the counties to hold similar prayers in churches, mosques, temples and sanctuaries with specific appeal for peace and justice to prevail,” he said at a press conference in Nairobi yesterday.
Cord’s suspension move comes amid pressure from diplomats and church leaders who favour dialogue to resolve the IEBC stalemate as opposed to violent protests which have led to the killing of at least three people.
But in response, Jubilee scoffed at Cord’s move to suspend the protests, challenging them to take responsibility for the deaths, injuries, looting and destruction of property in the last three weeks.
National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale said Cord should not just suspend the demonstrations, but should stop them forthwith and apologise to the residents of Nairobi and the entire country for the mayhem they have caused in recent weeks.
In what is likely to heighten differences between the protagonists, Duale insisted Jubilee will only accept dialogue held in the joint Justice and Legal Affairs committee of the National Assembly and Senate.
But the Machakos senator warned that the weekly protests will become more intense if there will be no concrete steps towards dialogue by June 5, 2016. “We remain ready and committed for dialogue as the best path out of the crisis facing our nation,” said Muthama, who however reiterated that they will not accept a dialogue the “parliamentary way” but one which will involve different stakeholders from sections of the country.
Siaya Senator James Orengo blamed the government for “using excessive force and providing the police with heavy military equipment to intimidate Kenyans against demanding their rights”.
He termed as unfortunate, that the country is becoming a place where freedom of expression, assembly and lawful struggles against the State is being met with “absolute brute force”.
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