CORD calls off Monday demos

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) has called off its planned demonstration on Monday to give room for consultations on dialogue.

Speaking in Nairobi, Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama said that the coalition would update its supporters on the fate of Thursday demos.

Muthama revealed that the coalition came to the decision after fruitful engagements with diplomats and members of the clergy over the past two weeks.

The Machakos Senator added that the buck now rests with the Jubilee Administration, adding that if by Wednesday CORD will not have received a solid response from Jubilee, they would mobilise their supporters to go back to the streets.

Speaking at the same time, Siaya Senator James Orengo condemned acts of brutality by the police during the demos, saying that the deaths that occurred were avoidable and unnecessary.

Orengo also spoke against the instances of hate speech, and called on the Kaparo led National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to intervene.

This comes just two days after the coalition issued notice of yet another round of demonstrations on Monday and Thursday to call for the overhaul of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), after plans to set up a special joint committee of Parliament failed.

In a letter to Nairobi County Police Commander Japheth Koome, CORD said it plans to upscale the demonstrations from once to twice a week, with protests scheduled for Mondays and Thursdays effective next week.