Orengo dismisses reports of misrepresenting CORD

Siaya Senator James Orengo has refuted claims by two Members of Parliament from the CORD coalition that he misrepresented the opposition during the Joint Parliamentary Select Committee discussions on electoral reforms.

Responding to statements by Kibra MP Ken Okoth and his Kiminini counterpart Chris Wamalwa on Citizen TV’s Power Breakfast show on Tuesday, Orengo said every member of the committee participated in the outcome of the report.

“There are reports out there by a section of the press about the participation and outcome of this report. I want to confirm that the decision of this committee was unanimous as per the first volume of the report, it was signed by every member of the committee,” said Orengo.

Ken Okoth and Chris Wamalwa accused Orengo of misrepresenting the agenda of the opposition coalition.

The legislators claimed that the report drafted after month-long sessions by the Joint Parliamentary Select Committee has sections that are not palatable and should be amended to conform to the Constitution.

Wamalwa  faulted CORD representatives in the committee for agreeing to the cleaning of register saying their issue was with the numerous voter registers that were in place and needed to be overhauled.

“Our desire was to go for IPPG and on that we failed; the current report gives the president powers to pick IEBC select committee which is not what we wanted. Even after the current commissioners have left, we will have a problem when it comes to picking new ones.” said Wamalwa.

On his part, Kibra MP Ken Okoth, accused Orengo of ignoring the interests of the coalition in the negotiations, saying his statement, quoted on a local daily signified arrogance.

“James Orengo is being arrogant, he shouldn’t think he is special just because he chaired the committee because many people could have done his job, even better,” said Okoth.

Also speaking after CORD Parliamentary Group meeting, the opposition principals, Raila Odinga, Moses Wetangula and Kalonzo Musyoka, resolved to fully support the IEBC reforms report that is set for debate in the National Assembly and the Senate Wednesday.

Odinga said: “We would like a new commission to be in place by the 30^th of September, and then the process of verification of the register and the new voter registration continue in earnest.”