Donatila
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- Oct 23, 2014
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Police have rejected Opposition leaders' application for anti-IEBC demonstrations in Eldoret town
David Songok, ODM chairman in Uasin Gishu county, had notified officers of planned protests but the green light was not given.
Songok said on Monday that they presented the notice but that Eldoret West OCPD Samuel Mutunga was not available to give them authority to proceed.
"They have been taking us round and round but we will follow up so NASA supporters in this region can join others countrywide in the push for reforms at IEBC."
He noted the coalition led by Raila Odinga has many supporters in the region as the Opposition chief got more than 60,000 of their votes on August 8.
Songok said they have been mobilising their supporters to take part in protests in the area that is home to DP William Ruto and a Jubilee stronghold.
Acting Interior CS Fred Matiang'i banned demonstrations in the CBDs of Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu but has been defied.
Raila's supporters and Opposition leaders dismissed him as lacking authority to issue such an order.
They have carried on with the mass action but on Sunday, Jubilee secretary general noted the protests are primarily taking place in NASA strongholds.
Tuju termed the demonstrations "Luo mass action", saying they are "only in Kisumu, Homa Bay, Siaya and Kibera and not in other NASA strongholds".
"This narrative that there is mass action or 'no Raila no reforms'... going out there...let us be honest...this is not mass action."
Other National Super Alliance leaders in Uasin Gishu have said they want dialogue to end the stalemate surrounding Raila and Uhuru Kenyatta's rematch on October 26.
Kipkorir Menjo, the NASA coordinator in the region, said they support demands for reforms at IEBC but also want dialogue between Uhuru and Raila on the repeat vote.
"Hard line positions by leaders on both sides, especially those in Jubilee, may plunge the country into chaos."
Menjo said the top two presidential candidates should meet to discuss a free, fair and credible electoral process so the country can move on.
He said proposals for power-sharing should not be used to stop dialogue.
"It's not a must that they discuss a nusu mkate government. They should just streamline the polls for the sake of the country which is slowly sliding into chaos."
The official further said the stand taken by a section of Central Kenya leaders, led by Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua and former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo, was commendable.
"The country is bigger than all of us. Raila and Uhuru both have supporters. None of them should be ignored."
Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria and Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru criticised Karua and Kabogo on Sunday, saying they should not make such calls while their leaders are busy campaigning.
Source: Star coke
