Raila welcomes Uhuru’s move to resolve IEBC stalemate

CORD leader Raila Odinga has welcomed a move by President Uhuru Kenyatta to form a special joint select committee of Parliament to spearhead IEBC reforms.

Responding to the president’s address to the nation on Wednesday, Raila said that CORD has been for a joint team to discuss the reformation of IEBC, adding that the coalition will give a comprehensive statement on the matter on Thursday.

In his address to the nation, President Uhuru Kenyatta had agreed to name a team to dialogue with CORD in seeking a resolution to the standoff that is in its sixth week.

The president stated that the decision had been reached following consultations with speakers of the Senate and the National Assembly and religious leaders, calling on CORD leaders to also soften their stand on the matter to ensure the issue is solved amicably.

The IEBC impasse seemed to have been headed for a resolution last Tuesday after CORD leader Raila Odinga claimed that they had agreed with President Kenyatta to form a team that would spearhead the reformation of the electoral agency in a meeting at State House in Nairobi

The matter took a new twist a day later after the president and his deputy William Ruto refuted claims that there was such an agreement during the talks.

Despite this, CORD went ahead to name a team of five legislators; Senators James Orengo (Siaya), Johnson Muthama (Machakos), Mombasa Woman Representative Mishi Kombo, MPs Junet Mohamed (Suna East) and Eseli Simiyu (Tongaren) to represent them in the talks.

The Opposition ended its one-week break from protests on Monday and returned to the streets in a bid to pile pressure on the commissioners to vacate office.

They further vowed to increase the frequency of the protests to twice a week to ensure their grievances are addressed.

@benjaminwafula