CORD leader Raila Odinga ,Siaya Senator James Orengo ans Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama during Cord press conference in Nairibi.
BY NT CORRESPONDENT.
CORD says that police on Monday 9 used live bullets and teargas to disperse angry protestors.
While thanking those who turned up in a demo which started peacefully but later curved into chaotic protest, Cord said that they will not relent from demanding the resignation of the IEBC commissioners.
“Some of our people may have sustained injuries as a result of the live bullets and the teargas that police fired but nobody must give up. We must soldier on. Nothing comes easy and we are under no illusion that change at the IEBC will come easy. But it will come,” Cord leader Raila Odinga said.
Dismissing alleged “State propaganda” that Cord is acting illegally, Raila said that they were acting within the rights in Article 37 and 38 of our Constitution.
“And to those arguing that we must go to Parliament if we want change; let us remind them that all sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya. The people may exercise their sovereign power either directly or through their democratically elected representatives. In the case of removal of IEBC commissioners, the people have decided to exercise their sovereignty directly,” he said.
He continued to state that the scandals of chickengate are a tip of the iceberg in an institution that is now riddled with corruption and sleaze.
“CORD is committed to entering into a dialogue on the way forward to establish and reconstitute the IEBC. The discussions should be open to all stakeholders including civil society and other non-state actors,” they say.
Raila says that it is foolhardy and childish to say that IEBC will ban CORD from participating in elections. “That is brinkmanship, megalomania or childish petulance. It is an abuse of constitutional mandate and responsibility.”
Leaving the conduct and ability of IEBC with the elite political class will mutate the commission to an electoral mongrel and appendage of the executive, Cord says.
“We therefore today give notice that unless the IEBC Commissioners vacate office now or immediately and unless there is established an inclusive mechanism for structured dialogue put in place, again, immediately we will continue to organize demonstrations and protest rallies countrywide on every succeeding Monday until our conditions are met,” Raila said.
