Raila insists agreeing on a four-man talk team with Jubilee

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leader Raila Odinga insists that there was an agreement between the opposition and the Jubilee coalition to put in place a four-member committee to dialogue on the issues surrounding the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Speaking in Nyamira County, Odinga said that the two coalitions had reached an agreement to forward two members each and accuses Jubilee of insincerity and lack of commitment in resolving the IEBC standoff.

“We all agreed to dialogue on the matter and that each political faction nominates its members to a committee,” said Odinga adding: “What we want as CORD is an out-of-Parliament solution, not taking the matter in the National Assembly which is dominated by Jubilee.”

“We agreed to dialogue first as parties like we did when we came up with the Serena Accord so that whatever decision is reached, the National Assembly will endorse it unanimously.”

Odinga further noted that the two coalitions must play on a level ground and each should nominate a joint secretary and that the decision of the committee should only be presented to Parliament for endorsement and not to be subjected to a voting process.

Odinga went ahead to say that CORD will not go into dialogue with any conditions from the Jubilee administration since the electoral matter has many stakeholders including the religious groups, the private sector and Kenyans at large.

CORD has been calling for the overhaul of the IEBC accusing the electoral body of open bias in favour of Jubilee.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is on a two-day tour of Ukambani region, had earlier in the day said that the IEBC reformation process must follow the set Constitutional process.

He told CORD that the issue must go through the National Assembly after being deliberated upon by the Joint Select Committee of Parliament.