Raila Odinga writes to President Kenyatta requesting dialogue

CORD leader Raila Odinga has written to President Uhuru Kenyatta requesting for dialogue on issues of national interest.

Addressing the press on Tuesday, a day after holding their second protest against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the ODM leader said they have an array of issues that should be addressed before the next elections.

“We have written a letter to President Uhuru Kenyatta asking for dialogue on an all inclusive process. We have a number of concerns that should be addressed before the next polls,” said Raila.

He maintained that CORD would continue with their push to have IEBC commissioners vacate office saying they do not believe they are in a position to hold free and fair polls.

“We will continue with our protests every Monday until the IEBC commissioners vacate office. We will not agree to take part in the next polls if Issack Hassan is still chairman of the commission,” said Raila.

Raila’s sentiments were echoed by CORD co-principal Moses Wetangula who said he the coalition will not been cowed by teargas.

“If IEBC commissioners do not leave office, we will not have an election in 2017. It is not fair to have a referee who leans on one side in any match,” said Wetangula.

“No matter how much they teargas us, we will not relent in our push to have IEBC commissioners vacate office.”

During the anti-IEBC protest on Monday, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka had alleged a plot by IEBC to steal the elections by tampering with BVR kits.

The CORD co-principal claimed that one of the IEBC commissioners travelled to Korea to seek assistance in tampering with the kits to be able to tilt the results in Uhuru’s favour, allegations that IEBC has denied.

@benjaminwafula