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Police block second ODM rally
Story by JONATHAN KONUCHE and ODHIAMBO ORLALE
NATION
Publication Date: 1/5/2008
The ODM rally at Uhuru Park flopped for the second day after
police repulsed its leaders.
Party chairman Henry Kosgey, treasurer Omingo Magara and Ugenya
MP-elect James Orengo were the only leaders who tried to access
the historic grounds which was fortified by an estimated 100
paramilitary officers.
The three fled on foot to the nearby Serena Hotel with officers in
hot pursuit. Their supporters kept at bay by the officers on horse
back and with guard dogs.
The chairman announced that they will hold a rally at the venue on
Tuesday to pressure President Kibaki to accept their demands.
Earlier, ODM said it would reject proposals to join a Government
of National Unity and a recount of the presidential votes.
Secretary-general Anyang Nyong’o said they were not interested in
re-tallying of votes as proposed by attorney-general Amos Wako,
saying they had lost faith in the Electoral Commission of Kenya
and its chairman, Mr Samuel Kivuitu.
The official announced that they were also demanding an
international mediator and a transitional Government for three
months before a presidential election.
“If the Democratic Republic of Congo could do it, why not us?”
asked the senior Orange.
The secretary-general said they were also demanding that an
international mediator steps in to help resolve the impasse.
As he was speaking at Pentagon House in Kilimani area in Nairobi,
Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa was holding a closed-door
meeting with President Kibaki.
The South African Nobel Laureate held a two-hour meeting with Mr
Odinga on Thursday morning before making an appointment with
President Kibaki.
Prof Nyong’o said Mr Odinga was not ready to file a petition in
court over the controversial results announced by Mr Kivuitu, who
has since admitted that there were irregularities.
Addressing the local and international media at Pentagon House
before proceeding to Uhuru Park for the banned rally, Prof Nyong’o
said his party had no faith in the Judiciary and accused some
judges of being partisan.
Earlier, Mr Odinga held closed- door talks with the German
ambassador to Kenya, Mr Walter Lindner, on the post-election
violence which has left an estimated 200 people killed and
thousands displaced.
But the ODM leader did not address the press and was later seen at
Serena Hotel.
The United States Ambassador to Kenya, Mr Michael Ranneberger, was
driven to the hotel at 2.30pm but it could not be confirmed
whether he met Mr Odinga.
Prof Nyong’o said the purpose of Mr Odinga’s meeting with the
German envoy was to demonstrate his commitment to provide a
political solution on the standoff that is threatening to split
the country.
The ODM official said they were shocked to hear that the
Government had rejected mediation efforts by African Union
chairman John Kufour, the president of Ghana.
The ODM blamed the crisis on Mr Kivuitu, saying he had let Kenyans
down by declaring President Kibaki the winner before the results
could be verified.
“We plan to march until our demands are met,” Prof Nyong’o said.
On a statement by Government spokesman Alfred Mutua on CNN that
the President was not ready to negotiate with losers, the ODM
official reminded him that out of the 210 parliamentary seats
countrywide, ODM had 99 while PNU secured 43.
Asked why the worst hit areas in the country by the riots, looting,
maiming and deaths were in ODM strongholds, Prof Nyong’o said they
were not in charge of the security.
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