CORD announces indefinite suspension of all anti-IEBC protests

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) has announced an indefinite suspension of all protests against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

In a statement sent to media houses, CORD Management Committee co-chair James Orengo said that the move had been necessitated by the significant progress made in ironing out the issues that had impeded the formation of the dialogue team to resolve the issues surrounding IEBC.

He exuded confidence that a bipartisan motion to trigger the dialogue process would be tabled early this week to bring to an end the months-long standoff that has resulted in a series of anti-IEBC protests by CORD.

“There are signs of a definite white smoke above political scene in reaching an agreement between CORD and Jubilee in respect of the IEBC issue and the electoral process,” stated Orengo.

“In the circumstances, CORD is suspending until further notice all demonstrations against the IEBC in light of this development. We are looking forward to the establishment of the joint parliamentary select committee with the full weight of the coalitions and the Kenyan people behind it, not later than the week ending Friday 24th June 2016.”

The announcement comes just a day after CORD called off its Monday protests to create time for the formation of a joint dialogue team with Jubilee.

The opposition coalition also cancelled a planned prayer rally in Machakos, apparently promptly by the need to give the legislators who were detained last week time to recuperate.

@benjaminwafula