Cord leader Raila Odinga yesterday said he would swear on the Bible that President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday had pledged dialogue to reform the IEBC — but abruptly changed his mind.
Raila and Cord co-principal Moses Wetang'ula accused Deputy President William Ruto of swaying the President and intervening to block talks to end the IEBC stand-off.
“If they refuse [to open dialogue], then Dawa ya moto ni moto [Fight fire with fire],” Raila said, referring to more protests.
They spoke at a prayer rally in Kisumu for three protesters shot dead last Monday and for the many injured in anti-IEBC demonstrations.
Raila said that at a State House luncheon on Tuesday, Uhuru told him he was ready to have a team of five spearhead talks with opposition.
But the apparent deal he cited fell through.
“Jubilee must honour this and stop the politics of grandstanding and chest thumping. This is not a threat or an ultimatum. They must stop this cat-and-mouse game,” Raila said.
Cord says talks must begin today on dismantling and reforming the electoral agency — or the opposition takes to the streets on Monday and resume stormy nationwide protests.
Cord has staged four demonstrations nationwide to remove the commissioners it accuses of bias and collusion with Jubilee.
Ruto told the Madaraka Day rally on Wednesday the electoral agency cannot be reformed by a few individuals "over a cup of tea" and said the law and constitution must be followed. He criticised the opposition at length for violating the constitution.
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Yesterday Raila said Ruto was not keen on dialogue because he opposed the constitution in 2010. He said he has no right to accuse the opposition of not following the law in seeking to disband the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
“I want to answer what Uhuru and Ruto said in Nakuru yesterday [Wednesday]. One said we called him watermelon; yes, watermelon he was. Ruto on his side opposed the new constitution. He should not say we are not following the law,” Raila said.
He said the opposition had first pressed for electoral reform with a parliamentary petition through [ODM official] Wafula Buke “but Jubilee MPs threw it out”.
“We then collected more than 1.6 million signatures to change the constitution through popular vote but IEBC colluded with Jubilee to block it,” the former Prime Minister said.
"We have since resorted to demonstrations and picketing, which is also constitutional," Raila said.
Ruto's spokesman David Mugonyi dismissed the accusations of scuttling dialogue.
"The Deputy President has been very clear Cord should follow the law," Mugonyi said.
It is understood Ruto is opposed to any negotiations that may project the government as weak and caving in to Cord, the opposition they defeated in 2013.
Ruto is also said to be unhappy with Raila, after the former Prime Minister launched a pro-ICC campaign when he was faced charges in The Hague over PEV.
Cord MPs say he fears a reformed and honest electoral commission would dash his own chances of election as President in 2022.
Yesterday, Raila was joined by Governors Governor Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Jack Ranguma (Kisumu), Cornel Rasanga (Siaya) and Senators James Orengo, Johnston Muthama, Anyang’ Nyong’o, Moses Kajwang’, Mombasa woman representative Mishi Mboko and many MPs and MCAs.
Dialogue team named
Yesterday the opposition nominated its dialogue team: Siaya Senator James Orengo, Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama, Tongren MP Eseli Simiyu, Mombasa woman representative Mishi Mboko and Suna East lawmaker Junet Mohamed. They are to discuss "various matters of national importance".
The joint secretaries are lawyer Paul Mwangi and Grace Katasi.
Opposition MPs warned the deadlock over the removal of IEBC commissioners would plunge the country into political turmoil if not resolved swiftly.
Six Cord MPs said although President Uhuru was willing to start talks, Ruto was insisting Cord should follow the letter of the law that wasn't working.
they accused Ruto of "blocking" dialogue for personal gains.
They included ODM Treasurer and Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire, Peter Kaluma of Homa Bay Town, Opiyo Wandayi from Ugunja, Silvance Osiele from Kabondo-Kasipul, Onyango Koyoo of Muhoroni and Shakeel Shabir (Kisumu East)
"Ruto has been overwhelmed by selfish political interests. His 2022 presidential ambitions are weighing him down from patriotic ideals. He is the obstacle in every step we want to make to carry out electoral reforms," Kaluma said.
They urged Uhuru to provide "firm leadership" and open talks to replace commissioners to avert chaos.
Bosire said the President was weak in handling the problem and was swayed by selfish handlers.
"The President must lead from the front, he can't run away because lack of clarity from his side is delaying this problem and making it worse."
"The President has too many handlers who are taking advantage of his lack of firmness to sway him from course. It is sad that after pronouncing himself on some matters ,we again see him turn around and change all of a sudden," he added.
Kaluma said Ruto is resisting any electoral reforms because he believes sweeping changes would threaten his quest to succeed Uhuru in 2022.
"He knows that he can't win under a free, fair and transparent general election. That is why he is saying no to dialogue over IEBC," the MP said.