Opposition suspends anti-IEBC protests

CORD has temporarily suspended demonstrations next Monday to give peace a chance, Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama has said.

Mr Muthama, the protests co-convener, said protests would resume a week later if the Jubilee government fails to initiate dialogue on the fate of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

CORD will dedicate next week to console victims of police brutality, he said.

Mr Muthama was speaking during at a press conference in Nairobi on Wednesday. He was flanked by Siaya Senator James Orengo, also a co-convener of the protests.

They said Cord had accepted calls by the international community and various groups to suspend the demos and were ready for dialogue.

Mr Muthama denied claims that CORD was seeking to stage a coup, noting that they did not have an army or weapons to do so.

Mr Orengo said CORD had not yet received any gestures either directly or indirectly from Jubilee for a dialogue

“We are waiting to hear from the highest echelons of Jubilee over calls for dialogue,” he said

Mr Orengo was not going to accept a parliamentary legal committee for the dialogue, and “those are the instructions we have.”

He pointed out that Kenyans wary of MPs' involvement in sorting out IEBC matter.

“We must involve all stakeholders. Dialogue is for all Kenyans, he said, adding: “There must be some level of agreement outside Parliament. Sovereignty lies with the people of Kenya.

He said Cord’s team of negotiators would be drawn from all interest groups, and not just Cord members.