Nasa presidential candidate Raila Odinga. PHOTO/FILE
By DAVID INGABO
newsdesk@reporter.co.ke
National Super Alliance (NASA) presidential candidate, Mr Raila Odinga, has called for new protests throughout the country after the ruling party Jubilee decided to change election laws.
Speaking at a news conference in Nairobi, Mr Odinga said the proposed changes were an attack on democracy and bi-weekly demonstrations would take place on Monday’s and Friday’s starting next week.
“I call on this generation to resist, to rise up and resist. We are calling our people to action,” the opposition leader said.
Earlier on Thursday the opposition walked out of parliament and election talks over ruling party plans to fast-track the proposed changes.
Opposition Senator James Orengo said they would not be party to a scheme to reintroduce dictatorship via parliament.
However, Senate Deputy Speaker Kithure Kindiki, who heads the ruling party delegation, accused the opposition of playing games and said they were not ready for the elections.
Cotu boss Francis Atwoli took issue with the move by Jubilee MPs to amend the Elections Act saying it will reverse gains made in poll management.
Mr Atwoli said the MPS, who have a majority in both the National Assembly and Senate are beneficiaries of a flawed electoral process as cited in the Supreme Court ruling.
He accused the legislators of placing stumbling blocks in country’s quest for democracy and predicted that some of them (MPs) will fall victim to the changes they have made in the 2022 General Election.
“What they are doing is not good for free, fair and democratic elections. The same fate can befall them in 2022 if they are not careful,” Mr Atwoli said on Thursday.
Meanwhile hundreds of Nairobi students protesting against the detention of opposition leader Paul Ongili Owino clashed with police around their campus.
Mr Owino, better known as Babu Owino, was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly calling President Uhuru Kenyatta names at a campaign rally.
Mr Atwoli asked President Kenyatta and Mr Odinga to dialogue for the repeat presidential poll to be conducted.
He warned that Kenyans would not sit and watch as the political leadership actions would a direct bearing on the lives of Kenyans.
“If they continue fighting and tribalising this country we will tell them no. we have that power,” Mr Atwoli said.
On Wednesday, Jubilee party took advantage of its superiority in numbers to marshal an 83-37 vote against the Opposition, for the National Assembly to hold an extra sitting on Thursday to consider changes to the Elections Act.
