CORD leader Raila Odinga says the three issues remain crucial if the country’s stability is to be sustained warning that if not addressed, the country may, “sink to the waters. That is why we want to Okoa (save) Kenyans/CFM
CORD leader Raila Odinga says the three issues remain crucial if the country’s stability is to be sustained warning that if not addressed, the country may, “sink to the waters. That is why we want to Okoa (save) Kenyans.”
He said the referendum was inevitable, noting that “not even the tyranny of numbers can stop it. It is people driven.”
“The work has now started and will be lead by the Committee of Experts… and the fact that CORD lacks numbers in the National Assembly; this cannot be stopped by the tyranny of numbers,” he stated.
“As per the Constitution, it is required that it is passed by over 24 counties and then it will proceed to Parliament…even if they fail to approve, it cannot be stopped.”
He made the disclosure in the company of his co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Senator Moses Wetangula.
Odinga told journalists on Wednesday that through the Okoa Kenya Movement (OKM) the issues that will be raised will be owned by Kenyans.
He said the coalition will only submit their views as any other citizens saying that, “CORD has only started the process.”
The movement will have the National Council of Advisors, National Political Caucus and the National Citizen’s Forum.
It will also include the National Committee of Experts and the National Referendum Committee.
The National Council of Advisors will consist of, “eminent Kenyans with a proven track record in standing up for issues of social justices. On the day we present the team, even the doubting Thomases will hopefully correctly read the signs of the times.”
The National Political Caucus shall consist of all political actors of goodwill, from all parties, “who may wish to identify with the Movement’s goals and objectives and be informed by its work.”
“This caucus will represent the various political actors and serve as a point of coalescing of their assortment of interests.”
Odinga said the role of the National Citizen’s Forum will be to engage Kenyans by receiving memoranda, petitions, research and “generally listening empathetically to the public.”
Odinga said the various structures will work together in a bid to make the push for referendum successful noting that it will be an all inclusive process to ensure the questions formulated represent the resolve of Kenyans.
This comes after the coalition on Tuesday named four experts to lead a team that will craft the referendum questions.
The team comprises lawyers Paul Mwangi, Kethi Kilonzo, Beatrice Kituyi and human rights activist Khelef Khalifa.
READ CORD unveils team to craft referendum question
READ CORD ditches dialogue call, demands referendum
The team will come up with a legal strategy to be used by the Opposition in trying to compel the government to organise a referendum, following a decision reached at the Saba Saba rally earlier this month.
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.
Kethi gained recognition during CORD’s Supreme Court challenge to Uhuru Kenyatta’s election as President while 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.
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