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.
“We will not give CORD any more room to challenge the government of the day. We will rein in CORD leaders Raila Odinga, Moses Wetangula, Kalonzo Musyoka and Senators James Orengo (Siaya) and Johnstone Muthama (Machakos) if they continue breaking the law,” he said.
He noted that CORD would not be allowed to hold parallel Madaraka Day celebrations at Uhuru Park on Wednesday, adding that only the president is allowed to preside over such events.
“CORD leader Raila Odinga is not the president and should therefore not take over functions that are a preserve of the Head of State,” he noted.
“Madaraka Day is a national holiday and therefore only the president is allowed to preside over such functions. By organizing a parallel rally at Uhuru Park, CORD is contravening the law and we will not allow them to do that,” he warned.
The Interior CS asserted that there had been minimal use of force in the thwarting of CORD’s protests against IEBC, adding that the police will not hesitate to employ maximum force to prevent any further contravention of the law.
Nkaissery’s remarks come amid a growing tussle between CORD, the police and Prayers Beyond Boundaries Ministries over who owns the rights to use Uhuru Park on Wednesday.
