CORD to demand more than IEBC reforms during talks with Jubilee Wetangula

The upcoming dialogue talks between Jubilee and CORD will focus on more than just issues of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the coalition co-principal Moses Wetangula has said.

Speaking at Ahero in Kisumu on Sunday, the Ford Kenya party leader said that beyond seeking to reform the IEBC and discuss the ability (or inability) of the current commissioners to conduct a free and fair election, the talks will also delve deeper on other issues including the issuance of Identification Cards and the mode of releasing election results.

“The talks between CORD and Jubilee should focus on more than IEBC. We want to discuss issues of the issuance of ID cards and why IDs of members from certain communities are released faster than others,” he said.

“We also want the results in the next elections to be announced at the polling centre and not transmitted and announced at the tallying centre like was the case in the 2013 election.”

Wetangula’s utterances came even as both CORD and Jubilee seemed to soften their stand on issue with Deputy President William Ruto saying the talks will begin in the next two or three days.

Speaking at the Salvation Army Church in Turbo, Kakamega County on Sunday, the deputy president said that the issues raised by the concerned parties would be resolved in the next few days to give room for dialogue in efforts to reform the electoral body.

“I am optimistic that the few sticky issues on the IEBC will be sorted out in the next few days to give way to dialogue so that if there is any problem with the electoral body, then we solve it amicably,” said Mr Ruto.

He cautioned political leaders against attacking each other saying this does not augur well for Kenya’s peace and stability.

“What we need in this country is peace. As leaders we should set a good example and be champions of peace, security and stability of our country for accelerated development.”

In what they refer as a sign of white smoke, CORD has announce an indefinite suspension of all protests against IEBC in view of recent progress made in ironing out the issues that had impeded the formation of the dialogue team.

CORD Management Committee co-chair James Orengo 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.”

@benjaminwafula