Demos against IEBC will continue, Wetangula, Khalwale say

Demos against IEBC will continue, Wetangula, Khalwale say

Kakamega and Bungoma Senators Bony Khalwale and Moses Wetangula respectively have stated that their fight against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is still on.

Khalwale told off the Gikuyu, Embu and Meru Cultural Association (GEMA) elders who have threatened to sue the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leaders for destruction of property caused during protests.

He claimed that no one should blame them for losses incurred during demos since the police ought to have protected businesses instead of attacking peaceful demonstrators.

“The police should have kept busy protecting the shops and not harassing the demonstrators,” said Khalwale.

The senator also brushed off tribalism claims saying that they were not demonstrating as a community but as Kenyan citizens.

Khalwale also stated that this coming Monday he will lead demonstrations against IEBC in Kakamega Town.

FORD Kenya Party leader Moses Wetangula on the other hand claimed CORD’s call to have IEBC disbanded is a move to liberate the country since the commission is not qualified enough to preside over the next General Election.

The senator cited irregularities in the last General Election maintaining that President Uhuru did not win in 2017.

“When you see us going to the IEC every Monday, it is not that we have nothing to do, we are looking for a referee that will be fair during the 2017 General Election,” said Wetangula.

The leaders were speaking in Malava Constituency during the burial of brother to former Malava Member of Parliament Soita Shitanda.

This comes just hours after victims of the 2007-2008 post-election violence have now threatened to camp at the homes of the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) Principals to protest the ongoing demonstrations against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

While condemning the violent protests, the victims stated that similar demonstrations in 2007 led to their predicament.

While calling on the CORD leadership to unconditionally call off their protests, the IDPs said that political violence breeds violence and violence breeds IDPs.

The IEBC has remained defiant of CORD’s mounting pressure, with commission chair Issack Hassan declaring that they would not vacate office while the government has stated that it can only dialogue with CORD within the precincts of Parliament.

Last week, Deputy President William Ruto said a team from government was ready to discuss with CORD officials on the issue of IEBC, adding that the current wave of protests will not resolve the outstanding issues.

Cord leader Raila Odinga, however, ruled out going the ‘parliament way‘ in the resolution of the issues saying Jubilee has often used its majority numbers in the House to frustrate their motions.

Tags:

CORD kenya IEBC odm FORD KENYA Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula Politics CORD demos Kakamega Senaator Bony Khalwale

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