|
ODM plans to hold 16 rallies
Story by BERNARD NAMUNANE and PATRICK NZIOKA
Publication Date: 1/12/2008
ODM has called for three days of mass action next week in 16
major towns country wide.
ODM leaders Anyang’ Nyongo,
Raila Odinga and Musalia Mudavadi at a press conference
yesterday. Photo/STEPHEN MUDIARI |
The decision comes a day
after mediation efforts by Ghanaian President John Kufuor
failed to bring together President Kibaki and ODM leader
Raila Odinga to resolve the political crisis that arose from
disputed election results.
The protests, that would start from Wednesday to Friday next
week, are meant to force President Kibaki to agree to a
negotiated solution to the crisis.
A high powered ODM team led by Mr Odinga congregated at
their Orange House headquarters and declared that they would
not relent in their quest for justice.
|
Reading their statement, secretary
general Anyang Nyong’o said Kenyans were entitled to “protest
peacefully at this blatant violation of their fundamental rights.”
Pentagon members
“We are therefore asking our countrymen and women, with whom we
feel such great sadness and such great solidarity, to join us in
demonstrations countrywide on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next
week,” he said.
Prof Nyong’o was flanked by Mr Odinga, and Pentagon members
Musalia Mudavadi, Wiliam Ruto, Najib Balala, Joseph Nyaga and
their candidate for the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr
Kenneth Marende.
They accused President Kibaki of declining to negotiate with them
under the auspices of President Kufuor who also the African Union
chairman stating that the Head of State was not interested in
arriving at a just solution.
“Talks between ODM and the other side (President Kibaki) have
collapsed due to the refusal of that side to negotiate with us. We
worked hard, together with other parties, to come up with a just
solution. Unfortunately, the Kibaki side does not want a just
solution; it is hell-bent on clinging to power regardless of the
verdict of the people,” he said.
He submitted that the Government was obstinate in its
determination to hold on power and even poured cold water on the
proposed mediation talks to be led by former United Nations
Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Prof Nyong’o said they had notified the Officer Commanding Police
Division (OCPD) in Nairobi of the intended rallies at Uhuru Park
on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. But police commissioner Hussein
Ali has declared the planned rallies will not be allowed to take
place.
He said it was imprudent for the party leaders to hold the meeting
at this time when the ban on all political rallies and
demonstrations was still in force.
Mr Ali who addressed a press conference at the police headquarters
yesterday said no one will be allowed to disrupt learning
programmes when schools open next week. Similar rallies have been
scheduled to take place in Tononoka Grounds (Mombasa), Kisumu
Sports Grounds (Kisumu), Afraha Stadium (Nakuru), Muliro Gardens (Kakamega),
Kanduyi Stadium (Bungoma), Sixty-Four Stadium (Eldoret), Kipchoge
Keino (Kapsabet) and Gusii Stadium (Kisii).
Others would be held in Green Stadium (Kericho), Ruringu Stadium (Nyeri),
Moi Stadium (Embu), Mulu Mutisya Gardens (Machakos), Voi Stadium (Voi),
Garissa Showground (Garissa), Narok Showground (Narok) and Ahindi
Gardens in Siaya.
Prof Nyong’o said that they were ready to be arrested by the
Government in pursuit of justice "We have been arrested before and
tortured at Nyayo House. They can build a Kibaki chamber and
torture us there as well,” he said.
The ODM secretary general called on the international community to
impose sanctions on the Kibaki administration warning that nobody
should trust the Government with financial aid.
|
