Nasa presidential candidate Raila Odinga has warned the
police against being used by the Jubilee government to harm Kenyans ahead of
the planned countrywide demonstrations over the electoral agency set for
Monday.
Mr Odinga, who was countering the Jubilee Party’s campaigns
in western Kenya, urged the residents not to fall for the “empty” tokens of
development.
In Busia County, where he led the National Super Alliance
brigade in consolidating its vote before the October 26 repeat presidential
election, Mr Odinga asked the electorate to continue striving to “liberate the
country from hostage under the Jubilee government”.
He was accompanied by Nasa co-principals Musalia Mudavadi
and Moses Wetang’ula.
He condemned an incident at the University of Nairobi last week,
when police officers beat up students who demonstrated to push for the release
of Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili, popularly known as Babu Owino.
Mr Ongili, a former student leader at the university, had
been arrested for allegedly making abusive remarks at a public rally.
“I want to tell (President) Uhuru (Kenyatta), the blood of
our people is in your hands. We demand a stop to police brutality. Freedom to
demonstrate, picket and protest is provided for by our Constitution.
“Police are civil servants and must protect all Kenyans when
executing their duty of maintaining law and order. Their livelihoods depend on
taxpayers,” said Mr Odinga.
The Nasa leader asked residents to march to the Independent
Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) offices in Busia and demand the
ejection of the agency’s CEO Ezra Chiloba and other commissioners, whom he
accused of colluding with Jubilee to steal his win during the August 8 General
Election. He once again opposed Jubilee’s proposed changes to the laws
governing elections, especially the one that would see the IEBC
vice-chairperson being allowed to do the job of the chairman if he is away or
fails to perform his work.
“The electoral law
amendments they want to pass in Parliament are against the Constitution. You
have the responsibility to defend the Constitution by all means.
“If the government tries to overturn the Constitution, the people
of Kenya have a right to turn against that leadership,” said Mr Odinga at a
charged crowd that had given him a warm welcome.
Mr Odinga, who was hosted by Busia Governor Sospeter
Ojaamong alongside his Siaya and Kakamega counterparts Cornel Rasanga and
Wycliffe Oparanya, respectively, regretted that Jubilee’s hand in the “stolen”
August 8 election had delayed the implementation of Nasa promises.
“We were due to launch free secondary education in September
but the repeat polls have delayed it,” he said.
Mr Mudavadi said Jubilee is plotting to steal the repeat
poll, adding that this explains why its leaders are criss-crossing the country
to woo political rejects.
In Kakamega, Mr Odinga urged the Luhya not to be “fooled” by
promises, saying the Jubilee administration had run down the economy.
He added that time had come for voters to send President
Kenyatta packing in the fresh election.
He maintained that Nasa would only be ready for the poll
after the IEBC agrees to meet the opposition’s demands.
“President Kenyatta should know I do not fear him and I’m
prepared to face him in the fresh presidential contest if the electoral agency
acts on our demands to ensure the poll will be conducted in a free, fair and
transparent manner,” said Mr Odinga.
Mr Wetang’ula, who is also the Bungoma senator, said:
“Jubilee can bulldoze the amendments to the electoral laws to suit their scheme
to rig the October 26 presidential poll but let them know that the opposition
will mobilise its supporters and force them to listen to our demands through
protests.”
Nasa’s visit to Busia, its stronghold, comes two days after
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto toured the border county
and other parts of western Kenya as the scramble for votes continues.
