
Media Statement: Uhuru Park Venue Allocation to Coalition for Restoration of Democracy (Cord) – (30.05.2016)


“Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery has threatened to arrest Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leaders for apparent contravention of the law. Speaking in Kajiado on Sunday, Nkaissery said that the government had given CORD leaders too much leeway, which has allegedly allowed them to engage in unlawful activities, and added that they will not tolerant the opposition’s open challenge to the government” (Kenya Citizen TV, 2016).

Nairobi May 28th 2016. UNDP’s support to the elections cycle in Kenya is through the Strengthening the Electoral Processes in Kenya programme, of which one component is working with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Through this support UNDP offered to support the voter registration exercise.
The Voter registration process is a continuous activity, nonetheless the Elections Operations plan envisioned two targeted mass voter registration campaigns, one in 2016 and the other in 2017. The aim of these campaigns is to register over 8 Million new voters in preparation for the 2017 elections, a majority of whom are the youth. In January 2016 the IEBC was at an advance stage of planning for the roll out of the MVR Phase I including with support from UNDP. As per the project, UNDP, was to facilitate the mobilization by IEBC of an extra 2,878 Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits across the Country in order for the total number of BVRs provided by IEBC for this exercise to be 5,756. This mobilization of extra kits therefore was strategic in view of reaching as many youths as possible within the target of 4 Million for this period. Mobilization of BVRs therefore required the recruitment and remuneration of a total of 3,168 voter registration assistants.
In line with contracting arrangements, VRAs are required to submit copies of their contract, worksheet, National Health Insurance Fund card and National Social Security Fund card to the IEBC for verification, together with valid bank account or M-Pesa details, after which payment is disbursed. Some of the VRAs did not provide this information on time and therefore this resulted in delayed processing of their payment. This has however been addressed and UNDP Kenya and the IEBC are working with all VRAs to ensure expedited payment for services rendered.
“I have already prepared my own personal position on the IEBC which I want to present to them (MPs and Senators), like everybody else. I have no problem. Let the process be televised. Let it be put out there. Let people hear what does the church think, what does the President think, what does the Government in waiting think, what does everyone think and at the end of all that we get something that ensures we have an election cycle that is not violent,a cycle that is peaceful and a cycle whose results will be transparent and acceptable and will allow the stability we all seek to continue. Let us move one as one Nation” (Uhuru Kenyatta, 26.05.2016).



“The Kenya Film Classification Board has cautioned the media against airing graphic content emanating from the ongoing protests by the opposition. Chief executive Officer Ezekiel Mutua says continued coverage and subsequent airing of the demonstrations by the media may compromise the country’s peace and security” (KBC, 2016).
Afterthought: (The clip starts at 0:20 or so as the black screen).
So the KFCB want to censor the media as the UCC wants to do in Uganda, now the same in Kenya? The KFCB just sounds like they want to honor the government and the ruling party instead of the people and caring about the men and woman who actually are hurt in the Demonstrations and Protest; as that make the Media show the Oppressive behaviour against the population as the Media should show that. And the KFCB shouldn’t try to censor it, as the Social Media will show it to the world and the KFCB should be careful to silence that as well.
The threat that the KFCB proclaimes is that it shows weakness of the Ruling Party as they have to brutally disperse the crowds instead of peacefully arrange the demonstrations. So the media shows this and make it look bad, but its the Police who makes the Ruling Party look bad, not the demonstrations.. Because the peaceful marches and being around the IEBC offices shouldn’t hurt anybody, but the live-bullet, water-canons and tear-gas does! Peace.

There are questionable actions towards the Coalition of Reform and Democracy (CORD) who are protesting the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) who are conducting the elections in Kenya and are following orders from the ruling party Jubilee Coalition and soon legal entity Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP).
Today is the fourth Monday in a row when the CORD and their leadership have held demonstrations against the Commission who have the authorities and government behind them. Therefore the Police Brutality and violence against the people in Kenya is now not only around the Anniversary Tower around the Haile Selassie Avenue in the capital. It has branched out to the provinces and other towns.

Today the demonstrations happen not only in Central Nairobi and Kibera. They happen in Mombasa, Kakamega, Nakuru and Kisumu.

As early in the morning there was 100 Anti-Riot Police was deployed to Uhuru Park in Mombasa. This was before the demonstrations had started that was supposed to be led by Governor Hassan Ali Joho, who is also a Deputy of ODM, a party in the CORD alliance. As the demonstrations moved, so did the ready Police and threw tear-gas at the demonstrators. While also arresting Mombasa Speaker Thadeus Rajwayi and Junda County Member Paul Onje. Together with 10 more people we’re also arrest around the demonstrations. So as the people we’re dispersed by the Police, after that the streets of Mombasa are now patrolled by the officers.

Governor Hassan Ali Joho: “Despite intimidation & outright provocation by Kenya Police, peaceful anti-IEBC demo was held in Mombasa”.
Another report:
“FIVE SHOT by prison warders during anti-IEBC protests in Migori town,rushed to hospital in critical condition, police boss David Kirui says” (NationBreakingNews, 2016).
In Kakamega as the demonstrations there was also dispersed by the Police. The Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale, he is detained at Kakamega Police Station. Boni Khalwale states himself: “Am in Kakamega Police Station cells arrested 4 participating in a constitutional & peaceful anti-IEBC demo. Kenya!” In Kakamega the Police went violent with gunshots and injuries of demonstrators. Also happening in town we’re Journalist Leon Lidigu who was filming of Police Officer kicking and clobbering a woman, the Police confiscated his camera as he had filmed the Police Brutality!

There we’re assembled demonstrations in Nakuru. Even the ODM Chairperson Dennis Okomol was arrest for holding the demonstrations. CORD Supporters have been sitting on the outside of Nakuru Railway Police Station after the arrests for the Police while they we’re holding demonstrations in town.
Also Suna East MP Mohamed Junet have been arrested and is being detained at Kilimani Police Station.

In Kisumu the demonstrations was shut down with brutality, as the Police shot live bullets even at a man who was entering a CBA bank. So the Police shot a man in Kisumu, who was not even parts of the Demonstration, just at the wrong place at the wrong time, as the Police in Kisumu wanted to show their power and the rights to disperse the person who demonstrates against the IEBC. Also other than the first person shot, the reports also says two more we’re shot and with serious injuries into County Hospital. The Police also threw tear-gas at the journalist who was covering the demo. What was more impressive what that certain police officers entered a Hotel in town where they stole chapatti and mandazi’s before they arrested the owner of the Hotel. In Kisumu there have also been burning of tires in the street while this is a reaction to the violence shown by the Police.

“My heart cries for Kibera. The people your fighting for live in Karen and leafy surburbs na hakuna teargas kwao. #CORDdemos” – DJ Moz Kubamba

In Nairobi there were actions in Kibera, around the Anniversary Tower, even Police Helicopters while the tear-gas hit the streets, as on the Haile Selassie Avenue. Sealed of the offices, but no major news from Nairobi, as it the towns of Kisumu, Kakamega and Mombasa where the Police went into action this Monday. Seems like Nairobi Metropolitan Police Commander Japheth Koome have slowed down after last Monday’s demonstrations. Even if the Kibera slum where they started to burn tires in the street in demonstrations against the IEBC; while this is happening the Anti-Riot Police have thrown the tear-gas in the area, that have even inflicted the public, which means that Police even tear-gassed the kids! Even a Primary school with 200 secondary school students we’re teargassed!

There been talking of a convoy of 500 cars driving towards the IEBC Offices in Nairobi as the Offices have been sealed this morning. So the ending of the convoy today will have in Nairobi, as the visible harassment and police brutality that will enter Central Business District of Nairobi, when the leaders of CORD and their convoy enters the Capital as they are driving down from the highway. How the second time around today will go down is not sure. Certainly the Police Brutality has been too high against the protestors, as they are citizens, just as much as the Police Officers. There been vivid actions that should be questioned, as much as the ones that happen last Monday.
They have no done it Monday upon Monday, they are determine to question the powers of the IEBC and their real independent counting and tallying of the results, as this message also show of an anonymous staff at the IEBC:

That is enough for now. Peace.