Coalition and Reforms for Democracy
(Cord) political rally scheduled for Saturday will now go on after the
Inspector General of Police David lifted the ban on political meetings
in the country.
Cord said Mr Kimaiyo had allowed them
to hold a rally at Uhuru Park on Saturday after a meeting with top party
leaders early Wednesday morning.
The police boss had earlier Tuesday outlawed all political rallies until further notice due to security concerns.
Mr
Kimaiyo, however, disowned the disowned the blanket ban on all
political gatherings later Tuesday, saying they could he held away from
Madaraka (Independence) Day celebrations
"We are just saying that rallies can continue as long as they don’t interfere with preparations of 1st (of June), that is the Madaraka Day," he said in a telephone interview with the Nation.
Shortly
after the ban, Cord had vowed to go on with the rally terming the ban
as a “cowardly act” which had no basis in law, putting them at a
collision course with the police.
MEETING WITH KIMAIYO
The
opposition leaders including Senators Moses Wetangula and his
counterpart James Orengo as well as former National Assembly Speaker
Farah Maalim, Homa Bay County MP Gladys Wanga and Gem legislator Jakoyo
Midiwo met with the IG early Wednesday morning and were allowed to go
ahead with the rally.
“This morning we have engaged
with the IG on a wide range of issues touching on the announcement he
made and we have agreed that the rally shall go on,” Mr Wetangula told
journalists outside Parliament buildings Wednesday morning.
“We will also hold very serious rallies in various parts of the country in the coming days,” he added.
He
said the programme will run as scheduled and that various issues would
be discussed during the rally including insecurity, corruption among
others.
The Bungoma Senator faulted Mr Kimaiyo for the
earlier ban saying no previous Cord rally has had any security
challenges neither had any been marred with violence.
Mr
Maalim said the police boss had promised he would provide adequate
security during the rally to safeguard both Cord leaders and their
supporters.
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