CORD to resume occupy IEBC protests Monday

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) will return to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) offices on Monday next week to seek audience with commissioners on need for them to leave office in the interest of the nation.

In the statement, CORD said that all their actions will be consistent with the Constitution and laws of Kenya.

“As members of the Firimbi Movement, we intend to represent our members to visit other IEBC field offices on the same day for the same reason of persuading the Commission to give way for a more credible alternative. We invite all Kenyans who are interested in peaceful, credible, free and fair elections to join this march. Let all Kenyans, from all stations of life, stand in solidarity with this effort,” read the statement.

CORD in its statement insisted that IEBC must go.

“We believe we have a water tight case against IEBC. We recognize that no electoral body or system is ever perfect. But in accountable political systems, electoral debacles should lead to immediate thorough public reviews of election laws and the performance of electoral bodies.”

“Nothing of the sort has gone on here since 2013. IEBC has only treated us to silence, secrecy, denial and more incompetence. IEBC set out to register 4 million voters, failed miserably, and then blamed politicians. Kenyans cannot say that they know anything that the IEBC is doing to ensure all citizens of voting age are registered or to get elections, including transmission of results, right,” added CORD.

“No Kenyan can say today whether they know why the equipment failed, where that equipment is today and whether any tests have been done to ascertain the kits can be used in 2017. Nobody has been told why the equipment failed, why it was procured fraudulently and who takes responsibility. To date, nobody has been punished for the failure of the equipment. Instead, we are being told the same IEBC officials have returned to the market abroad to source for more equipment.”

CORD has also accused the government of using force during their attempt to seek audience with IEBC commissioners two weeks ago.

“We wish to make it very clear to Jubilee that we will not be cowed. We intend to pursue our cause to the logical end. Jubilee had better be warned that Kenyans have been here before. Other nations have equally been here before. No amount of equipment can ever beat the will of the people. No amount of equipment ever secured a failed regime.”

Last week, CORD postponed the occupation of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) headquarters that was to take place on Tuesday, 3^rd May 2016.

In a statement, the coalition said they were postponing the planned occupation in honour of the former First Lady, the late Mama Lucy Kibaki, and in compliance with the three-day national mourning that was to be announced when her body arrived on Sunday.

CORD had announced that it would not relent in its push for the removal of the IEBC commissioners from office.

In a press briefing, CORD principals Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula noted that they are within their rights to push for the disbandment of IEBC, blaming the police and Jubilee government for turning Monday’s anti-IEBC march chaotic.

Police were forced to use teargas to thwart attempts by Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leaders to storm IEBC offices at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi.