Another political showdown is looming as Cord plans to stage parallel Madaraka Day celebrations next Wednesday even though the opposition yesterday temporarily suspended its anti-IEBC protests.
On 1 June Kenya will witness the rare event of the President holding the official Madaraka celebrations in Nakuru while the opposition stage alternative celebrations in Uhuru Park in Nairobi, the normal government venue for the ceremony.
Madaraka Day commemorates Kenya attaining internal self-rule on 1 June, 1963 which preceded full independence from the United Kingdom on 12 December 1963.
Cord has already booked the historic Uhuru Park Grounds while the Jubilee leadership is scheduled to be in the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru from where President Uhuru Kenyatta will address the nation. This will be the first time since Independence that the President has commemorated Madaraka Day outside Nairobi. .
Nairobi is the seat of power according to the Constitution and Jubilee supporters are worried that allowing Cord leader Raila Odinga to 'address the nation' from Nairobi may give the impression that he is setting up an alternative government in waiting.
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On Sunday the National Security Council met amid government concerns that the opposition is orchestrating a civilian coup.
On Monday Cord CEO Norman Magaya wrote to Nairobi Police Boss Japheth Koome advising him that the Madaraka rally is meant to “celebrate civil liberties and freedoms and reaffirm the quest for constitutionalism”. The police have not yet responded.
Cord insiders say they will use the rally to demonstrate their political might in the city.
“We will be making a major announcement regarding the IEBC and give a roadmap to our supporters,” the CEO said.
Yesterday Cord Management Committee Co-Chairmen James Orengo and Johnstone Muthama suspended the opposition weekly anti-IEBC demos every Monday but gave Jubilee an 11-day ultimatum to start the talks over the removal of the IEBC commissioners or face a resumption of the "mother of all demonstrations".
“If by the end of next week, there shall be no concrete steps towards dialogue, we shall resume our weekly protests, which will only get more intense. The ball is therefore in the government’s court,” said Muthama, senator for Machakos.
It is not clear whether Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero will joining the Cord brigade at Uhuru Park or have his own function.
Yesterday Nairobi Communication Officer Beryl Okundi did not respond directly but only insisted that the governor will spearhead the celebrations in Nairobi.
“I urge our Cord supporters to turn out in large numbers during Madaraka Day Celebrations at Nyayo Stadium to be presided over by His Excellency Governor Dr Evans Kidero,” said a separate statement by ODM Nairobi Branch Chair George Aladwa.
Leaders in Nyanza are being pressured to snub the Madaraka Day celebrations.
“We are not ready to share a platform with the police to celebrate a non-existent Madaraka. None of our governors will be allowed this useless event. Let the police parade and match to empty stadiums and address themselves,” said a text message circulating in Nyanza.
Orengo and Muthama yesterday told a press conference at the Cord secretariat that they had suspended the anti-IEBC demos after appeals from the international community, spiritual leaders, civil society and the media.
Cord leaders Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula have been leading protests every Monday seeking the removal of the commissioners at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission which they believe is biased in favour of Jubilee.
Cord will now hold forums across the country to comfort the bereaved and those wounded by police violence during the recent protests.
Four people were killed in Siaya and Kisumu on Monday with another ten were shot by police.
“We shall dedicate next week to the pursuit of peace, justice and dialogue with prayers for peace at Uhuru Park,” Orengo said.
“Our supporters in the counties will hold similar prayers in churches, mosques, temples and sanctuaries with specific appeal for peace and justice to prevail,” he said.
Orengo said that Cord has been steadfast and will always remain committed to dialogue as the best path out of the crisis “facing our nation.”
The Siaya Senator said Parliament was not the place to solve matters.
“We are not going to do things as if Parliament is the sole sovereign authority. The independence constitution was never negotiated in Parliament. What we are pushing through are practical measures of constitutional means,” Orengo said.
He claimed that the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee of the National Assembly was choreographing its moves to buy time for Uhuru.
The two senators also claimed that the brutal use of force by the police is a reminder of how power was grabbed in 2008 when the police was responsible for 500 of the 1300 deaths in the post-election violence.
"It is evident how the officers have approached peaceful protesters- wielding extraordinary arsenal including body armour, automatic weapons, sniper rifles, tanks, grenade launchers and armored vehicles that seem meant for Baghdad, Afghanistan and other struggling states," they said.