Cord leader Raila Odinga, President Uhuru Kenyatta, Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama, Saba Saba Day, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Masinde Muliro, Timothy Njoya, James Orengo, Paul Muite, Gitobu Imanyara, Martin Shikuku,

PHOTO | ANTHONY OMUYA From left, Cord leaders Hassan Joho, Raila Odinga, Hassan Omar, Ababu Namwamba and Bungoma senator Moses Wetangula take a selfie at JKIA, on May 31, 2014.  NATION

 Saturday, May 31, 2014

In Summary

• Cord leaders asks the President to embrace national unity and shun tribalism
• Mr Odinga said the Head of State captured the imagination of his supporters during the last campaigns but had now turned his back on them.
• Mr Musyoka also set off debate on the fate of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) saying it must be disbanded.

By JUSTUS WANGA
More by this Author

Cord leader Raila Odinga on Saturday said Kenyans were ready to replace President Uhuru Kenyatta, arguing that he had lost direction.

Mr Odinga said the Head of State captured the imagination of his supporters during the last campaigns but had now turned his back on them.

“Mgema akisifiwa tembo hulitia maji (when you praise a brewer, he adulterates the brew). This is what has happened to the Jubilee government, we are going to sack this brewer,” he said in his off-the-cuff remarks.

Mr Odinga, who was Kenya’s second prime minister (the first was Jomo Kenyatta), was speaking at Uhuru Park, Nairobi, moments after landing from his more than two months sabbatical in the US.

But it was Mr Kalonzo Musyoka who touched off the subject when he declared that Kenyans have a case against the Jubilee government under President Kenyatta.

“We want a national dialogue to solve this case on July 7, but if they do not accept, they will go home,” Mr Musyoka stated amid cheers from the crowd.

Throughout, chants of “Uhuru must go” rent the air.

Cord co-principal Moses Wetang’ula accused the President of despising the West in his foreign policy. He said that was the genesis of the many problems the country faces.

“We must respect our friends from the West if we must achieve any meaningful development. They told Westerners to pack and go and you have seen what has happened to the country. The problems are not just limited to tourism, they are myriad,” Mr Wetang’ula said.

He said there was nothing wrong in looking East but added that “this should not be done at the expense of the West”.

On accusations by Jubilee politicians that Cord was plotting a revolution, Mr Wetang’ula admitted.

BY THE CONSTITUTION

“It is true that we are doing so; it will, however, be a constitutional revolution. We will not stand by and watch as the country goes to the dogs,” said the Bungoma senator.

Mr Musyoka also set off debate on the fate of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) saying it must be disbanded.

“We will not accept to go to any election with the current IEBC as it is constituted,” he said. Speaker after speaker thanked Mr Odinga for returning.

“Now we will not be scared because Baba is back,” Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho said.

“We are now ready to salvage this country, it is being run down,” Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama said.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale challenged Mr Kenyatta to live up to his call for national unity he sent out this week during the national prayer breakfast.

“You cannot tell us to embrace national unity when all your appointments are skewed in favour of Mt Kenya region,” he said.

He said Mr Odinga’s return offered an opportunity for Kenyans to light up the flames of freedom that he said were dimming by the day.

Siaya Senator James Orengo said the return signalled a new era.

“We must return this country to the rule of law and the people power must be respected as the Constitution acknowledges,” he said.

Mr Odinga also drummed up support for the ODM candidate in the Mathare by-election Stephen Kariuki, a son of city politician Margaret Wanjiru.

“Let us give him all the support he needs to win the seat,” he said.

Mr Kariuki successfully petitioned the election of Mr George Wanjohi as the MP in the Court of Appeal.

*****

Significance of July 7

Saba Saba Day is traced back to July 7, 1990, when opposition leaders united and galvanised Kenyans to protest against the totalitarian Kanu regime.

The demonstration was held at Kamukunji grounds in Nairobi where calls for multipartyism were made.

Police responded brutally killing more than 20 protesters. The group was led by Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Masinde Muliro, Timothy Njoya, James Orengo, Paul Muite, Gitobu Imanyara, and Martin Shikuku. 
Mr Kenneth Matiba, Mr Raila Odinga and Mr Charles Rubia had been detained a few days before.