Cord leaders Raila Odinga and Moses Wetang'ula on Thursday accused Deputy President William Ruto of blocking dialogue to end the IEBC stalemate.
The Opposition, having named their negotiators , says talks on dismantling and reforming the electoral agency must begin Friday failure to which they resume nationwide street protests on Monday.
Raila said he will publicly swear on the Bible that during his meeting on Tuesday at State House Nairobi, President Uhuru said he was ready to have a team of five spearhead talks with opposition on the IEBC — only to change later.
Three people have been shot dead, many injured and beaten in clouds of police teargas following the past four demonstrations pressing for removal of the electoral agency's commissioners.
Ruto said on Wednesday that IEBC cannot be reformed by a few individuals "over a cup of tea" or a "tête-à-tête" and said the constitution must be followed.
Speaking in Kisumu, Raila said Ruto was not keen on dialogue because he opposed the constitution in 2010.
He said Ruto has no right to accuse the opposition of not following the law in their quest to disband the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
“I want to answer what [President] Uhuru and Ruto said in Nakuru yesterday [Wednesday]. One said we called him watermelon; yes, watermelon he was. Ruto on his side opposed the new constitution. He should not say we are not following the law,” Raila said.
The Cord leader addressed a prayer rally for their three supporters shot dead in last Monday's demonstration in the lakeside town.
The group also spoke to a political gathering where they accused MPs of throwing a petition presented to parliament on the matter of the electoral reforms they are vouching for.
“We then collected more than 1.6 million signatures to change the constitution through popular vote but IEBC colluded with Jubilee to block it,” the former Prime Minister said.
"We have since resorted to demonstrations and picketing, which is also constitutional," Raila said.
The ODM boss cautioned Uhuru and Ruto against chest-thumping about trying to thwart the quest to reform the electoral body.
“Jubilee must honour this and stop the politics of grandstanding and chest thumping. This is not a threat or an ultimatum. They must stop this 'cat and mouse game',” Raila said.
He was joined by Governors Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Jack Ranguma (Kisumu), Cornel Rasanga (Siaya) and Senators James Orengo, Johnston Muthama, Anyang’ Nyong’o, Moses Kajwang’, Mombasa woman representative Mishi Mboko, a battery of MPs and MCAs.
“If they refuse, then Dawa ya moto ni moto (the medicine of fire is fire),” Raila said, referring to more protests.
But Ruto's spokesman David Mugonyi on Thursday rejected Cord's accusations, saying the opposition must obey the law .
"The Deputy President has been very clear. Cord should follow the law," Mugonyi said.
Read also: DP Ruto tells off Raila over IEBC reforms
http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/06/02/ruto-stumbling-block-to-dialogue-on-iebc-raila_c1362621
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Cord leaders Raila Odinga and Moses Wetang'ula on Thursday accused Deputy President William Ruto of blocking dialogue to end the IEBC stalemate.
The Opposition, having named their negotiators , says talks on dismantling and reforming the electoral agency must begin Friday failure to which they resume nationwide street protests on Monday.
Raila said he will publicly swear on the Bible that during his meeting on Tuesday at State House Nairobi, President Uhuru said he was ready to have a team of five spearhead talks with opposition on the IEBC — only to change later.
Three people have been shot dead, many injured and beaten in clouds of police teargas following the past four demonstrations pressing for removal of the electoral agency's commissioners.
Ruto said on Wednesday that IEBC cannot be reformed by a few individuals "over a cup of tea" or a "tête-à-tête" and said the constitution must be followed.
Speaking in Kisumu, Raila said Ruto was not keen on dialogue because he opposed the constitution in 2010.
He said Ruto has no right to accuse the opposition of not following the law in their quest to disband the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
“I want to answer what [President] Uhuru and Ruto said in Nakuru yesterday [Wednesday]. One said we called him watermelon; yes, watermelon he was. Ruto on his side opposed the new constitution. He should not say we are not following the law,” Raila said.
The Cord leader addressed a prayer rally for their three supporters shot dead in last Monday's demonstration in the lakeside town.
The group also spoke to a political gathering where they accused MPs of throwing a petition presented to parliament on the matter of the electoral reforms they are vouching for.
“We then collected more than 1.6 million signatures to change the constitution through popular vote but IEBC colluded with Jubilee to block it,” the former Prime Minister said.
"We have since resorted to demonstrations and picketing, which is also constitutional," Raila said.
The ODM boss cautioned Uhuru and Ruto against chest-thumping about trying to thwart the quest to reform the electoral body.
“Jubilee must honour this and stop the politics of grandstanding and chest thumping. This is not a threat or an ultimatum. They must stop this 'cat and mouse game',” Raila said.
He was joined by Governors Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Jack Ranguma (Kisumu), Cornel Rasanga (Siaya) and Senators James Orengo, Johnston Muthama, Anyang’ Nyong’o, Moses Kajwang’, Mombasa woman representative Mishi Mboko, a battery of MPs and MCAs.
“If they refuse, then Dawa ya moto ni moto (the medicine of fire is fire),” Raila said, referring to more protests.
But Ruto's spokesman David Mugonyi on Thursday rejected Cord's accusations, saying the
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