The Opposition has said it is planning “the mother of all demos” today to force IEBC commissioners out of office, and accused the Government of planning to cause chaos.
And a Jubilee MP has written to the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, accusing Opposition leaders of leading protests that are “a threat to regional peace and security.”
At the same time, National Assembly Majority Aden Duale scoffed at the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy’s (CORD) claims that Jubilee was planning to plant hooligans to disrupt the anti-IEBC protests.
Yesterday, CORD said today’s protests would be the “mother” of the last three demonstrations, as they had prepared their supporters in Kisumu, Mombasa, Kakamega and all other major towns across the country.
Disrupt protest
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“We know they (Jubilee) have plans to bring youths to disrupt our demonstrations,” claimed Senator Johnstone Muthama.
Mr Muthama and Siaya Senator James Orengo, who are members of CORD’s co-ordinating committee, spoke at a press conference yesterday when they confirmed today’s protests against the electoral commission would go on.
The two, and a host of the Opposition lawmakers, alleged plans by certain MPs from Jubilee to hire youth to counter their “peaceful” anti-IEBC protests today.
Muthama said they would not be cowed by police brutality in their quest to send the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) bosses home ahead of the 2017 polls.
“Those who thought we would be cowed by police brutality, we want to tell them we will not stop,” he added.
The standoff over the electoral commission assumed an international angle after Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria wrote to Mr Ban, requesting a meeting to discuss the threats allegedly posed by CORD leaders Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula.
And in dismissing Kalonzo’s chaos claims, Duale told police to be vigilant and provide security during the protests.
SIT ON TARMAC
“The police are under obligation to protect the protesters and deal with any criminal elements. They must protect the people and their property,” said Duale.
And he added: “Kalonzo is a product of a different era in history. He has no iota of reformist credentials in his bag. He is not used to teargas and Raila should get more hardened people to help him in his protests. I suspect he wants to exit the protests. However, it is very ironical for a former prime minister, a former vice president and a former minister for foreign affairs to sit on the tarmac when there exists a Constitution which they supported”.
Yesterday, Orengo said today’s nationwide protests would be peaceful, and asked the police to provide protection and to keep criminals away.
“We intend to hold peaceful protests. We shall not be armed and we shall not seek to harm anyone or destroy property,” he said.
The Siaya senator said they had made detailed preparations to ensure peaceful and orderly protest.
“But we are aware that Jubilee is planning to plant people in our protests under the guise of coming to support the IEBC. Those behind this plan are well known,” he claimed.
Orengo asked the police to take action against individuals linked to the plot to cause mayhem.
Police yesterday warned that they would use “legal means” to disperse today’s protesters if they violated the law.
MPs Timothy Bosire (Kitutu Masaba), Simba Arati (Dagoretti North), TJ Kajwang’ (Ruaraka), Florence Mutua (Busia Woman Rep), Moses Kajwang’ (Homa Bay senator) and Gladys Wanga said the embattled electoral commissioners must go home for the country to have a free, fair and credible elections.
