Police arrested 15 CORD supporters who were found robbing members of the public and vandalising property as they fled from the CORD organised riots/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 23 – Five Jubilee Members of Parliament have sued the Coalition Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leaders for contempt of court after they failed to ensure their protests to force Commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission out of office remained peaceful.
The legislators Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Dennis Waweru (Dagoretti), Kimani Ichung’wah (Kikuyu), Ferdinand Waititu (Kabete) and Alice Nga’ng’a (Thika Town) want CORD Leader Raila Odinga’s property valued and sold to meet cost of damage from their demonstrations.
Through their lawyer Harrison Kinyanjui, the MPs told Justice Joseph Onguto, that the Opposition leaders and supporters should be held responsible over destruction and breaking into both public and private property which reportedly occurred during last Monday’s protests.
The protest was marred by cases of mugging by a section of Opposition supporters targeting innocent members of the public.
Police arrested 15 CORD supporters who were found robbing members of the public and vandalising property as they fled from the CORD organised riots.
Onguto has certified the application as urgent and directed the same be served upon Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, Moses Wetangula and James Orengo.
He also directed the matter be heard inter-parties on May 26.
The judge however declined to issue summons against CORD leaders, saying that they be represented by their lawyers.
Justice Isaac Lenaola had two weeks ago said that pending the determination of the petition filed by the MPS, the Opposition leaders should not break into the commission’s offices until the matter is heard inter-parties.
READ: Court bars CORD from storming electoral commission offices
The pronouncement to forcefully evict commissioners or break into offices remains suspended.
The MPs had filed an urgent petition in the High Court seeking orders to halt the intended removal of IEBC Commissioners and destruction of property.
Lawyer Kinyanjui told the court that CORD leadership must respect the rule of law.
He said that the petitioners have also enjoined the Orange Democratic Party (ODM), Wiper Democratic Party, Ford Kenya, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) and the Registrar of Political Parties as interested parties.
CORD leaders have remained adamant that they will not relent in the push to storm the offices of the electoral commission every successive Monday from May 2 should the IEBC Commissioners remain in office.
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