Cord leader Raila Odinga on Tuesday claimed Kenya police used live bullets to disperse anti-IEBC protesters.
Raila claims that the police action on Monday might have resulted into injuries among the Cord supporters
“Some of our people may have sustained injuries as a result of the live bullets and the teargas that police fired but nobody must give up. We must soldier on. Nothing comes easy and we are under no illusion that change at the IEBC will come easy. But it will come,” he said.
“We also encourage our people not to fall victim to the State propaganda that we are in anyway acting illegally.”
He said the coalition is acting within the rights in Article 37 and 38 of Kenya’s Constitution.
He added that those arguing that Cord must go to Parliament if it wants change ought to realize that the people may exercise their sovereign power either directly or through their democratically elected representatives.
“In the case of removal of IEBC commissioners, the people have decided to exercise their sovereignty directly,” he said in a statement to newsroom.
However Raila said they are open to dialogue which should be open to all stakeholders including the civil society.Cord supporters led by the three principals Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula on Monday staged a protest outside Anniversary tower-the IEBC-Headquaters. It was agreed that such similar protests would be staged every Monday until IEBC Commissioners resign.
“As a coalition of political parties we know our role under the Constitution, the Political Parties Act and the Elections Act and we do not need lectures from the discredited commissioners of IEBC including the Chairman.”
“It is foolhardy and childish to say that IEBC will ban CORD from participating in elections. That is brinkmanship, megalomania or childish petulance. It is an abuse of constitutional mandate and responsibility.”
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