Cord leader Raila Odinga has given the government an eight-day
ultimatum to review the controversial electoral law passed last week in
the National Assembly. If this is not done, he said, the Opposition will
call for nationwide demonstrations.
Mr
Odinga said that the January 4, 2017 demonstrations, which Cord leaders
called for last week, can only be stopped if Jubilee honours the report
prepared and tabled in the National Assembly by the joint select
committee on the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission. The
committee was chaired by senators Kiraitu Murungi and James Orengo.
“The
Opposition has given Jubilee government eight day to sort out the
controversial Elections Act and regulations guiding a peaceful and
transparent election in 2017. We will not settle for anything less after
the days elapse but to lead our supporters to the streets,” said Mr
Odinga while in Nyamira-Kango, Bondo.
He
said the festive season had delayed the onset of the protests over the
controversial law but that this would also give Jubilee time to review
its position on the law, which provides that the electoral commission
can use manual system to identify voters and transmit results if
electronic gadgets fail. Mr Odinga has protested that this would give
room for dead voters to cast their ballots and other election
irregularities.
FLAWED ELECTION
On Monday, he accused Jubilee of planning a flawed general election that will lead to unnecessary bloodshed.
He also urged senators to engage in a sober debate on the controversial law when it comes up for debate in the Senate tomorrow.
“I
hope that senators will engage reason in their debate and put the
interest of the common wananchi at heart. We need to negotiate on the
electoral laws as a way of uniting the country ahead of the general
election,” said Mr Odinga. “The Jubilee Coalition has panicked and has
resorted to dictatorial rule which includes coercing its MPs to pass
laws that will provide a flawed 2017 election. This time I will not let
them rig the elections.”
Nominated
MP Oburu Oginga, compared President Uhuru Kenyatta’s leadership to that
of Egypt’s Pharaoh. According to him, Mr Odinga and the National Super
Alliance (NASA) will deliver the country from bondage.
“His recent actions indicate that he has panicked and not sure of retaining his seat in 2017,” said Dr Oginga.
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