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Raila lobbies MCAs over referendum push

The CORD leader says during the meeting with 64 MCAs, they ironed out all their differences setting the ground ready for the referendum campaign in the city which is set to be launched in a month's time/CFM

The CORD leader says during the meeting with 64 MCAs, they ironed out all their differences setting the ground ready for the referendum campaign in the city which is set to be launched in a month’s time/CFM

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 29 – CORD leader Raila Odinga on Wednesday lobbied for the support of the coalition’s Nairobi Members of County Assembly (MCAs) for the forthcoming OKOA Kenya Referendum campaigns.

The CORD leader says during the meeting with 64 MCAs, they ironed out all their differences setting the ground ready for the referendum campaign in the city which is set to be launched in a month’s time.

Addressing journalists, Odinga said the MCAs will be in charge of the coalition’s grassroots campaign once the verification of signatures is done and approved.

“The MCAs wanted to know their role, which shall be the role of the executive, what will be required of them and also what will be likely to be the content of the bill which will be forwarded to the electoral commission,” he stated.

He also announced the postponement of the Mombasa rally this weekend saying it will be held mid next month. The referendum rallies will thereafter be extended to all parts of the country.

Odinga said the OKOA Kenya referendum was firmly led by the OKOA Kenya secretariat but said he cannot rule out a merger with the Governors’ Pesa Mashinani initiative in future.

“As far as we are concerned, the Governors are addressing the same issues which we are addressing…we will cross the bridge when we reach it,” he said.

“If the need for dialogue arises, it will be dealt with at the appropriate time.”

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale had earlier hinted on a CORD merger with the Governors but asked to respond on his sentiments, Odinga said, “he should answer the question…he is available. He got his mouth and voice.”

The CORD referendum team is led by lawyers Paul Mwangi, Beatrice Kituyi and human rights activist Khelef Khalifa.

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The team is in charge of signatures collection and coming up with a legal strategy to be used by the Opposition in trying to compel the government to organise a referendum.

Mwangi served as constitutional advisor in the office of Raila Odinga when he was Prime Minister, while Kituyi served as the Labour Permanent Secretary in the Grand Coalition Government.

Khalifa is a member of the Muslim for Human Rights organisation and previously served on the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.

CORD called a referendum during the Saba Saba rally at Uhuru Park on 13 key issues after demands for national dialogue with the government failed but has since narrowed down to three issues.

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