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Sonko in court to stop all CORD, Jubilee rallies

The Senator has sought in his petition to the High Court that interim orders be issued against the two political coalitions to prevent a breach of peace and violation of fundamental rights and freedoms/FILE

The Senator has sought in his petition to the High Court that interim orders be issued against the two political coalitions to prevent a breach of peace and violation of fundamental rights and freedoms/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 26 – Nairobi County Senator Mike Sonko on Thursday moved to court, seeking orders to stop rallies planned by Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) and the Jubilee Coalition.

The Senator has sought in his petition to the High Court that interim orders be issued against the two political coalitions to prevent a breach of peace and violation of fundamental rights and freedoms.

Sonko said based on what he had observed from recent events, it would be dangerous to hold more rallies in different parts of the country as planned by CORD and Jubilee.

He expressed fears that the political animosity witnessed was likely to spread more divisions and may become uncontrollable looking at the ethnic nature of differences emerging.

The Senator further argued that the constitution gives no power to an individual to declare a national public holiday saying doing so would be illegal and killing the spirit of the constitution.

The petition was presented before Justice Isaac Lenaola by Sonko’s lawyer Martin Karuga and was certified as urgent and the court has ordered the same be served upon Jubilee, CORD and Cabinet Secretary for Interior Joseph Ole Lenku.

The matter will be heard on June 30.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga declared July 7, commonly known as Saba Saba Day a public holiday in which he plans to lead his CORD party to a big rally at Kamukunji Grounds, in Nairobi.

He has maintained that he will not change his plans until the government heeds to his call for a national dialogue.

In Kenya, the Constitution has clearly indicated the number of public holidays and Saba Saba Day is not one of them.

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Saba Saba Day is an iconic day in Kenya as it symbolises liberalisation of political parties from the oppressive single party regime of KANU.

However, though it is remembered, it is not classified as a public holiday.

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