Duale: Hype by CORD causing panic among Kenyans

There are reports that a section of Jubilee leaders is planning a parallel peace rally at Uhuru Park, the same venue for the planned Saba Saba rally. Isn’t this being reactive?

We have no parallel function on Monday because as far we are concerned it is a working day like any other. The leadership of Jubilee alliance has, however, been invited to a prayer meeting on Saturday (yesterday) by an inter-religious group. Otherwise we are busy delivering our mandate to Kenyans and have no business whatsoever playing catch up with CORD.

The Opposition has declared Monday July 7 a public holiday. Comment.

We shall be at work, including the President who will report on duty as usual. All public holidays are enlisted in Article 9 of the Constitution and any other special ones, including those marking religious festivities are gazzetted by the President and from my knowledge, the so-called Saba Saba is not one of them.

CORD is therefore engaging in an illegality and in my opinion the Head of Civil Service ought to have sent out a circular warning workers on the consequences of skipping duty. I am nonetheless convinced Kenyans will report on duty and go about their businesses as usual.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and CORD co-principals claim the President is willing to dialogue, but the Deputy President is opposed to the talks. Your take?

CORD is simply looking for an exit route. They have given endless ultimatums from the day the former Premier returned from US in May and now they are desperate.

They have been talking about thunder, rain, thunder and rain again, and I hope this time it shall surely rain. As for the DP, nobody from CORD has approached him on the dialogue issue, so how do they know he is anti-dialogue?

And why is Jubilee opposed to the parliamentary initiative for peace headed by Hon Mutava Musyimi?

What the MP for Mbeere South is proposing is a caucus, and any member of Jubilee and even CORD is free to join. Mutava wants to operate under the arrangement of a caucus, which is a weak entity  not legally recognised by Parliament and whose reports are not binding. If Mutava is serious about this initiative, let him take the matter to the floor of the House and pursue establishment of a Select Parliamentary Committee, which then will be accorded a budget and whose findings will be binding.

But you have all along said you are for dialogue carried out by elected leaders?

Of course we are ready to talk, even today, but only through the existing legal structures. And although he is a member of our side of the coalition, Mutava has no blessings of Jubilee because his baby has been born outside the existing structures, even at political party level.

As Leader of Majority in the National Assembly, I can only endorse a process from my side of the coalition if it is a product of the Jubilee Parliamentary Group, ordinarily chaired and addressed by the President and his deputy.

Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua argues that political parties are legal entities too and has dismissed as erroneous the argument that dialogue can only happen in Parliament?

Of course the President is at liberty to meet political party leaders and his challengers in last year’s presidential poll, including Martha Karua, and have separate discussions. But the Constitution clearly states the power of the people of Kenya shall be exercised only through three organs – the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.

What are your reflections on panic reactions ahead of Saba Saba, which has seen some Kenyans, believed to be sympathetic to CORD, flee their houses in Jubilee strongholds of Central and Rift Valley?

It is unfortunate that this hype by CORD is causing panic among Kenyans. Our people are aware of the consequences of the 2007/2008 polarised political campaigns, and they also know the post-election violence gave birth to the Constitution which ushered into office a democratically elected government of President Uhuru. They are running away from their residential areas in urban centres because they know the threats by CORD could cause chaos.

But the threats, if that is what they are, are coming from all sides of political divide, including governors who have warned CORD leaders against setting foot in some regions?

That may be reactionary by some Jubilee leaders, which is highly regrettable. But from where we sit in the Jubilee Government, I want to assure Kenyans that the security apparatus is aware of this challenge and are on top of the game. Let no Kenyan live in fear.

Finally, what next after Saba Saba on Monday?

The leadership of CORD is better placed to answer that question. While they do their thing, every week, day, hour and minute counts for us as we are engrossed in ensuring that we deliver on our social contract with Kenyans. What happens after Monday is not part of that mandate.