Raila calls for prayers

Cord unveils peace drive as it files case

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Former nominated MP Millie Odhiambo (front right), who clinched the Mbita MP seat, led members of CHORD in launching a peace initiative on the 15th of March 2013. CHORD will officially file their petition at the Supreme Court challenging the decision reached by the IEBC to have on the 16th of March 2013. Photo/Emma Nzioka  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By DAVE OPIYO dopiyo@ke.nationmedia.com By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU ashiundu@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Saturday, March 16  2013 at  00:30

IN SUMMARY

• Cord asks supporters to keep vigil and wear white T-shirts daily until Court rules on petition challenging Kenyatta’s election victory
• Coalition is challenging declaration of Mr Kenyatta as the winner of the March 4 presidential poll

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The Cord Coalition on Friday unveiled a peace campaign to run parallel to its election petition it intends to file at the Supreme Court on Saturday.

The coalition supporters are expected to don white T-shirts bearing peace messages as the campaign dubbed ‘Democracy on trial’ runs over the next 14 days.

Newly-elected leaders of the coalition, who launched the campaign, asked those unable to wear the T-shirts to wear white arm bands or lapel pin ribbons.

Under the programme that will be free of demonstrations, prayer vigils will be held across the country for the entire period of the case that is challenging the election of Uhuru Kenyatta as Kenya’s fourth President.

The launch took place as the President-elect and his deputy William Ruto kept the ground running, pledging to work with all independent commissions to ensure the 30-month-old Constitution was fully implemented.

Speaking after a meeting with the commissioners and other independent office holders on Friday, Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto said their administration “is willing, ready and prepared” to support the commissions in doing their job.

“You are independent and we have no intention whatsoever of interfering with your mandate,” Mr Kenyatta said. “Ours is to give you support and ensure the budgetary resources required to fulfil your mandates are made available.”

Mr Ruto said the Jubilee administration would make “every effort” to ensure the Constitution was implemented.

“We want it on record, right from the onset, that whatever support constitutional commissions require, we are ready, willing and prepared to engage the commission on their various mandates so that they are able to drive the business of our country,” he said.

Cord is challenging the declaration of Mr Kenyatta as the winner of the March 4 General Election over claims it was marred by anomalies.

Mr Kenyatta garnered 6,173,433 votes cast against Mr Odinga’s 5,340,546 in the election whose voter turnout was 86 per cent.

“These vigils will specifically pray that the truth will stand out at the Supreme Court case, for wisdom and courage for our judges and for peace across the country as justice is sought,” said Ms Joyce Wanjala Lei, Taita Taveta women representative-elect in a statement.

Mbita MP-elect Millie Odhiambo-Mabona said no demonstrations had been planned.

“We shall not hold any demonstrations because we have faith in the courts to deliver justice that many Kenyans are yearning for at this moment,” she said.

Ndhiwa MP-elect Aghostino Neto said the delay in filing the petition was because the coalition’s lawyers were still gathering evidence.