Cord's protest notice denied by police

Cord has notified the police that it intends to resume protests to remove IEBC commissioners on Monday 6 June. Photo/FILE.
Cord has notified the police that it intends to resume protests to remove IEBC commissioners on Monday 6 June. Photo/FILE.

Police have rejected a notification by Cord to resume their weekly demos on Monday.

Cord coalition had written to the police that they would resume the demonstrations

after futile efforts to initiate dialogue with the

government over the IEBC impasse.

Police said there is an existing court order banning the coalition from holding protests.

"We will not allow such protests on Monday 6th June 2016 on account of a valid court order," the police headquarters

said on Friday.

They also threatened to arrest those planning demonstrations.

The opposition had on Friday written to Nairobi county police commander Japheth Koome notifying him of the protests.

"Our demonstrations will be peaceful and to ensure orderly procession, the coalition has made arrangements for peace marshals who will guide and manage the demonstrators," read a letter signed by Cord chief executive Norman Magaya.

Cord had requested police to make necessary security arrangements to safeguard participants.

The coalition had promised to hold peaceful demonstrations as they express their displeasure and call for the

overhaul of IEBC ahead of 2017 general elections.

During the Madaraka Day rally at Uhuru Park, the coalition would only keep out of the streets if President Uhuru Kenyatta honoured his word to start the dialogue.

On Thursday, Raila, and his co-principal Moses Wetangula said it is wrong for the president and his deputy to overturn a decision to form a 10-member team to spearhead talks on how to disband the electoral commission.

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But in a statement on Wednesday State House refuted Raila's allegations.

Cord had already to represent the coalition in the talks.

"We agreed that we should come up with a team of five each from the coalitions, and it is very dishonest of the President and his Deputy to lie to Kenyans on national television," Raila said.

The Cord leader was referring to during Madaraka Day celebrations at Afraha Stadium that it was not possible for a few people to have their way at all times.

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State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu said the President supported the mechanism set out in the constitution, which gives Parliament the power to remove commissioners after receiving petitions.

Raila, however, said he had given the Jubilee Coalition until Sunday to appoint its team.

Cord named Senators James Orengo (Siaya), Johnson Muthama (Machakos) and MPs Eseli Simiyu (Tongaren), Mishi Mboko (Mombasa) and Junet Mohammed (Suna East) to represent it in the talks.

Earlier Balambala MP Abdikadir Aden had been named to the team but Junet Mohammed was picked to replace him.

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