From left: Mr Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper party), Ms Martha Karua (Narc-Kenya), Mr Raila Odinga (ODM) and Mr Moses Wetang'ula (Ford-Kenya) address the press at Mr Odinga's office in Nairobi on July 27, 2015. PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI | NATION MEDIA GROUP.
By OUMA WANZALA
Opposition leaders on Monday revealed details of the memorandum they presented to US President Barack Obama on Sunday.
In the document, Mr Raila Odinga (ODM), Mr Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Mr Moses Wetang'ula (Ford-Kenya) and Ms Martha Karua (Narc-Kenya) asked President Obama to support their push for electoral reforms and pressure the Jubilee leadership to arrest rank corruption and insecurity.
While vowing not to take part in the 2017 General Election unless the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is reformed, they said the changes were crucial in averting a repeat of the 2007/8 post-election violence.
ELECTIONS
The hotly contested poll plunged Kenya into political turmoil that claimed 1,133 lives and uprooted 650,000 from their homes.
While the 2013 General Election was peaceful, the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord), led by Mr Odinga, contested Mr Uhuru Kenyatta's victory at the Supreme Court.
“The elections of 2013 faced numerous challenges, including the wanting registration of voters and the tallying and relaying of results. The failure of the electronic system on voting day dealt a deadly blow to the credibility of the whole exercise,” states the memorandum signed by the four leaders.
GENDER RULE
The US government, they said, should help IEBC improve its ICT infrastructure and capacity ahead of the next polls.
“We urge the US to support reforms that can restore Kenyan voters’ faith in the IEBC and the electoral system,” the petition states.
They asked the US to push Jubilee to effect one-third gender rule and reverse laws that infringe on fundamental media and individual freedoms.
On corruption, the leaders expressed concern over the absence of a well-structured and comprehensive strategy to fight the vice.
CORRUPTION
Selective prosecution of high-ranking government officials, they said, had greatly undermined the fight against corruption.
On Monday, Mr Odinga urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to fight on corruption from the top.
“One person is contributing Sh10 million in harambees every week and his pay is known. Per month he contributes about Sh50million and he says he is generous,” he told a press conference in Nairobi.
He called for audit on such leaders, saying even with the support of their businesses, they cannot raise such huge amounts of money every week.
TERROR WAR
Ms Karua, Mr Odinga, Mr Wetang'ula and Mr Musyoka supported the fight against terrorism and insecurity and urged increased collaboration and assistance from the US in gathering, analysing and utilising intelligence as well as equipping Kenyan security personnel.
However, they condemned breach of law and infringement on the freedoms of Kenyans and civil societies in the war on terrorism.
The Opposition also asked President Obama to help Kenya develop a strategy for pulling the Kenya Defence Forces out of Somalia without creating a gap in the fight against global terrorism.
TRIBALISM
On Monday, Cord leaders said President Obama had addressed their concerns adequately, including tribalism and warned against use of second names to either deny or award people jobs.
“We have raised this countless times in our stand against exclusion in public affairs,” said Mr Musyoka.
“The US President warned against the economics of exclusion and termed it fodder for extremist groups. We have sounded this alarm. This has been at the heart of our call for the strengthening of devolution as a way of ensuring equitable development across our country.”
CREDIT: NATION
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