THE Coalition for Reforms and Democracy has accused the head of public service Francis Kimemia and inspector General of police David Kimaiyo of applying double standards when they banned public rallies recently.
Led by Sports and Youth Affairs minister Ababu Namwamba, the coalition maintained that when the two government officials announced the move, they appeared to be only targeting Cord leaders and their supporters in an attempt to gag their constitutional right of expression.
“It is discriminatory to purport to be stopping the Cord from holding public rallies while at the same time allowing the president elect Uhuru Kenyatta to hold public rallies every where even though he has not been officially sworn in to perform such duties due to the case Cord has lodged in court disputing the presidential election,” said the minister, speaking during special prayers held at the Voice of Salvation and Healing church in Busia town yesterday.
Namwamba at the same time said the two government officials were acting contrary to the new constitution which recognizes the freedom of expression and assembly as basic human rights, adding that they owe Kenyans an apology for referring to them as idlers.
He said Kenyans should be allowed to exercise their democratic right of discussing issues affecting them without being dragged on pretext that such gatherings are a threat to peace in the country.
He appealed to Cord supporters to uphold peace as they wait for the outcome of the presidential petition.
Namwamba who was accompanied by Matayos MP elect Godfrey Odanga, deputy governor-elect Kizito Wangalwa, deputy speaker-elect Moses Ote and other elected county representatives, called upon church leaders and Kenyans to pray for Raila Odinga.
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