CORD finally held its much touted Saba Saba rally at Uhuru Park in Nairobi. Prior to the rally, the country was engulfed in fear, political uncertainty and rising tension following claims that Cord planned to call for countrywide mass action to force President Uhuru and Deputy President William Ruto out of office.
These fears were heightened by statements by the co-principals, in particular former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, warning that Kenya will not be the same after the Saba Saba rally.
In the build rallies he said Kenyans were ready to take back their country. At one point, Raila announced that Saba Saba (July 7) day would be a public holiday. He warned those who will not attend the rally to stay indoors for their own safety. As if that was not enough, he told the Jubilee leadership to borrow a cue from what is happening in a neighboring country and the region, saying Kenya is not an exception and could go down the same route.
Many believed he was referring to the crisis in South Sudan and the ouster of Egypt President Mohammed Mursi. But all was not lost because there was still time for Uhuru to convene a national dialogue conference to find a solution to the problems facing the country.
Uhuru maintained that he was not opposed to national dialogue, but the talks must be held within the confines of the constitution and the institutions it has created. So, many asked: What is Raila up to? Does he want to blackmail Jubilee to use unconstitutional means to address his demands? Does he want to plunge Kenya into civil strife? If he is honest, why can’t he channel his grievances through the institutions created by the constitution?
Uhuru and Ruto stood their ground.
It seems the Cord leaders read the mood of the country and realised majority of Kenyans are opposed to mass action. So they changed tack and unveiled a new Cord road map dubbed Okoa Kenya Initiative. They said the deadline for national dialogue had passed and they were not willing to pursue that route.
So now they want a referendum for Kenyans to vote on whether they are satisfied with measures taken by government to address the challenges facing them.
The leaders urged Uhuru to constitute a National Referendum Committee that will organise the exercise. However, I doubt the new demands by Cord will materialise. Why?
First, the constitution is clear on how issues raised by the coalition can be addressed and so far there is no evidence to show the institutions created to handle them have failed.
Second, Uhuru has no power to call for a referendum. Even if he was to buy into the idea (which I highly doubt), he will be required to seek parliamentary approval. Cord MPs are outnumbered by their Jubilee counterparts. So how do they expect to push through the demands?
Third, if carried out, the exercise will cost the taxpayers billions of shillings. Kenya is struggling to re-build its economy, it does not make much sense to commit the country to such expensive exercise.
Cord should reconsider and support institutions created by the constitution, which are capable of addressing the plight of Kenyans.
Joseph Ndonga comments on topical issues.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment