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Defiant Cord sticks to two weekly demos plan


Opposition alliance, Cord, has written to the police notifying them of two peaceful demonstrations they intend to hold on Monday and Thursday next week in their quest for the removal of officials of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

This is inspite of an order issued earlier in the week by Internal Security Cabinet Secretary, Joseph Nkaissery, which outlawed such demonstrations.

President Uhuru Kenyatta also announced on Wednesday that a Joint Select Committee drawn from the Senate and the National Assembly would be formed to resolve the standoff.

On Thursday, the ruling Jubilee coalition went ahead to announce an 11-member team that would be part of the committee for the deliberations.

PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS

But in a letter dated June 10 and signed by the CEO of the secretariat Norman Magaya, Cord stated that the demonstrations will be peaceful and arrangements to have safety marshals have been made.

The letter that was addressed to the Nairobi County Police Commander and copied to the Inspector General and OCPD Central also requested the police organise for security.

“Your cooperation towards making the peaceful demonstration a success will highly be appreciated,” concludes the letter.

This even as City Hall slapped the opposition with a Sh250, 000 bill for unauthorized use of the Uhuru Park grounds during their Monday demonstration.

Monday’s demonstration in Nairobi, which were largely peaceful, saw Cord leaders and their followers converging at Uhuru Park for an impromptu rally during which Cord leader, Raila Odinga, briefly addressed the crowd.