VDP members declare their support for President Uhuru Kenyatta at
Koblenz Hall after they addressed a press conference in Mombasa on
October 1, 2017. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Jubilee leaders on Sunday called on Coast residents not to take
part in protest marches called by the National Super Alliance as they
launched campaigns for President Uhuru Kenyatta in Mombasa.
Gatundu
South MP Moses Kuria, former MPs Ababu Namwamba, Moses ole Sakuda and
Mombasa governor race loser Suleiman Shahbal said the demonstrations
were meant to create political uncertainty in Kenya.
Mr Namwamba said planned marches announced by Nasa leader Raila Odinga would hurt the country’s economy.
The demos are expected to begin this morning.
“We
know Coast people are peaceful and we urge you not to take part in the
demonstrations. Mombasa is the gateway to the economy of this country
and those demos will affect your businesses,” the former Budalang’i MP
said, adding that the opposition should push for reforms in the National
Assembly and the Senate.
REFORMS
“Reforms cannot come by taking the country hostage and creating uncertainty,” he said.
Mr
Kuria called for the arrest of three Independent Electoral and
Boundaries Commission returning officers in Mombasa who did not sign
forms 34B in the August 8 presidential election.
Mr
Sakuda and Mr Shahbal urged residents to vote for Mr Kenyatta on
October 26. They spoke during a rally at the party’s headquarters in
Nyali.
Others leaders present were former woman representatives Zainab Chidzuga (Kwale) and Joyce Lay (Taita-Taveta).
In
Taita-Taveta County, the Njavungo Council of Elders asked Nasa leaders
to call off the demonstrations and begin negotiations with the IEBC to
end the election impasse.
The
Taveta elders’ co-ordinator Mnjala Mwaluma said the protest marches
would raise the already high political temperatures and lead to violence
and lawlessness.
DEMONSTRATIONS
“We
are opposed to demonstrations because Kenyans may lose their lives and
property could be destroyed. We call on the electoral commission, the
opposition and Jubilee to begin talks in order to address the unresolved
issues,” Mr Mwaluma said.
He added that the political uncertainty was not conducive for investment.
The
elders said important industries like tourism and agriculture that
heavily relied on peace and stability were likely to bear the brunt of
the political standoff that had engulfed the country following the
nullification of the presidential election by the Supreme Court on
September 1.
“We do not want to
experience another round of violence. Street demonstrations are a
recipe for chaos and that should be avoided at all costs,” he said.
REPEAT POLL
Mr
Mwaluma said the electoral commission needed ensure political parties
were in agreement and satisfied with how it was preparing to handle the
repeat poll.
The elders called
on the IEBC to ensure its systems and officials handled the election in a
transparent, free and credible manner to avoid violence and unrest
after the poll outcome.
They
urged IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati to ensure that Nasa, Jubilee and
all stakeholders were involved in the preparation of the repeat poll to
enhance transparency and public confidence.
The opposition leaders have been holding demonstrations to push for reforms at the electoral commission.
They want senior commission officials who bungled the presidential election to resign.
Mr
Odinga on Friday said the opposition would call demonstrations every
Monday and Friday to push for the resignation of 10 officials,
including the commission’s Chief Executive Officer Ezra Chiloba, before
Nasa takes part in the repeat election.
They have vowed to boycott the repeat polls if no reforms are made at the commission.
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