Cord leaders say they have the right to protest and the High Court’s order means nothing to them
The High Court yesterday barred Cord leaders and their supporters from storming the IEBC offices.
Justice Isaac Lenaola said the orders will remain in force until May 5, when the case filed by five Jubilee MPs is heard. However, soon after the directive was issued, Cord lawyers James Orengo and Paul Mwangi told journalists “it amounts to nothing and the planned demos will continue because we are not breaking the law.”
Cord wants all IEBC commissioners out, saying they favour Jubilee and cannot be trusted to conduct free and fair elections. The demonstrations are intended to force them to leave.
On Monday, Cord leaders and supporters were tear-gassed by police at the IEBC headquarters in Nairobi. Yesterday, the MPs’ lawyer Harrison Kinyanjui had said the opposition was likely to carry on with demonstration at the IEBC offices before the case is heard. Orengo said he needs more time to respond to the suit. “It is wrong to issue orders without hearing all parties. We take great exception to this. We will not take part in these proceedings and we leave the judgment to the court,” he said.
Orengo urged the judiciary to be careful not to be seen as having an interest in politics. He said the judge has contradicted himself because last year, he ruled that all Kenyans have the right to assemble and participate in demonstrations.
CORD says rallies will go on at IEBC
Cord has called for nationwide rallies at IEBC offices to force commissioners to leave. They were to begin on Tuesday, however, Cord has postponed them for a week and says they will be held every Monday. The state has effectively denied security to Cord leaders during these rallies, which it calls illegal. It says VIP security officers at such demonstrations will be punished or sacked. Cord has been sued by MPs Ferdinand Waititu (Kabete), Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Kimani Ichung’wa (Kikuyu), Alice Ng’ang’a (Thika Town) and Dennis Waweru (Dagoretti South). Cord says the IEBC is biased.