Cord to hold rally at Uhuru Park in support of striking teachers

Cord leaders, from left, George Aladwa, Dan Maanzo, James Orengo and Jakoyo Midiwo at the Central Police Station in Nairobi on September 19, 2015 after notifying the police of their intention to hold a rally at Uhuru Park on Wednesday. The rally is in support of teachers who are currently on strike. PHOTO | ANTHONY OMUYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• Mr Orengo urged Cord supporters from various parts of the county to mobilise other members so as to ensure a big number turns up.
• Mr Midiwo said that Cord was also on the right track to impeach the President for failing to respect the courts.
• Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo said the government was acting unconstitutionally by closing schools as the matter was still in court.
• He added that the rally was not about Cord or Jubilee as the children of supporters of both coalitions were suffering.

By LILLIAN MUTAVI
More by this Author

The Opposition Cord is planning to hold a rally to protest against the government’s handling of the ongoing teachers’ strike.

This comes after the Cord leaders presented a notification to the police on Saturday on their intention to hold a public rally on Wednesday at Uhuru Park in a bid to compel President Uhuru Kenyatta to obey court orders on teachers’ salaries.

Siaya Senator James Orengo told journalists that they would stand in solidarity with the teachers to ensure that they received their full pay.

“We support the teachers to join a meeting next week to press for the full settlement of the teachers’ salaries as decreed by the courts,” said Mr Orengo.

Mr Orengo urged Cord supporters from various parts of the county to mobilise other members so as to ensure a big number turns up.

STAND WITH TEACHERS

“We must stand with our teachers at a time our children are not learning because the government refuses to pay what has been awarded by the court,” said Mr Orengo.

National Assembly Leader of the Minority Jakoyo Midiwo said that Cord was also on the right track to impeach the President for failing to respect the courts.

“If the President does not respect court rulings, we cannot expect anybody to,” said Midiwo.

Mr Midiwo said a government that does not obey the law undermines its own authority hence it is a failed government.

Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo said the government was acting unconstitutionally by closing schools as the matter was still in court hence they had already predicted the ruling.

“The fate of the teachers was decided even before the court would determine next week,” said Maanzo.

He added that the rally was not about Cord or Jubilee as the children of supporters of both coalitions were suffering.

Suna East MP Junet Mohammed said the government had failed by closing schools.

He added that they now feared it will also close down the health sector, media and all institutions that are threatening to go against them.