the situation room

Senator Hassan Omar attacks Raila Odinga, accuses him of meddling in Mom...

Senator Hassan Omar has rejuvenated his bid for Mombasa governorship with a scathing attack on former prime minister Raila Odinga, accusing him of meddling in the county's politics. The senator took a swipe at Raila for what he said was a perceived validation of the current administration led by governor Ali Hassan Joho saying Mombasa. In rejoinder, Mombasa county communication director Richard Chacha defended the track record of the current office saying next year's polls will be the ultimate deciding factor

BIG LOVE for RAO: EASTLEIGH flooded with people upon Raila's visit

Raila Odinga’s visit to Eastleigh was another avenue of showing Uhuru that Raila is a force and has the wishes of the majority. The flooding of humanity who closed their businesses to narrate their terrifying experience in the hands of the military also confirmed the mad luv the Muslim community got for Raila Odinga.

Jubilee targets Luos for killings, says Cord

Cord leaders want Jubilee to respond to allegations Luos are being targetted for extrajudicial killings.

Speaking on Wednesday during a prayer rally for the three people killed during the May 23 anti-IEBC protests in Kisumu, the leaders told the Jubilee government to explain why Luos were killed and injured in Nyanza during the demonstrations.

Cord leader Raila Odinga said police have no right to use excessive force against protestors. He told off police spokesperson Charles Owino over what he termed “reckless talk” on police shootings.

“Picketing and demonstrations are allowed by law and nobody has a right to justify killings like Owino is doing,” Raila said.

Owino told the Star on the phone police are justified to use firearms if their lives are threatened.

“I have advised that nobody should throw stones at police officers because they can easily be shot. Police are armed and you cannot face them with stones,” he said. Owino denied claims specific communities are being targetted. He said it is “reckless” for leaders to make such allegations.

During the prayer rally, leaders said they will “mobilise our people to defend themselves”.

Present were Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, Senators Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu), Johnstone Muthama (Machakos), Moses Kajwang’ (Homa Bay), Mombasa woman representative Mishi Mboko and nominated MP Oburu Oginga

Joho said, “We must be told why whenever there are protests in Central Kenya, nobody is shot dead or injured by the police.” Oburu said, “President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy cannot make us helpless. If this ethnic profiling continues then we will tell our people to start preparing themselves.”

Governor Jack Ranguma, Cord leader Raila Odinga and Governor Hassan Joho in Kisumu town on ursday / SAMUEL SIMITI

Courtesy of the star

Jubilee MPs plan to mobilise supporters to counter Cord in Monday protests

Jubilee MP's have declared 'war' against Cord on Monday should the opposition resume their weekly anti-IEBC protests to pressurize its commissioners quit office.

They said the only way the IEBC impasse can be resolved is through the use of constitutional means rather than the use of street protests.

Gatundu South legislator Moses Kuria warned he would mobilise his supporters to come to the street to counter the Cord protesters on Monday.

The controversial lawmaker further noted that they would not allow the opposition to continue ignoring court orders.

He added that the Raila Odinga-led opposition should learn to obey the law just as they did.

"When the court ruled that they be allowed to hold a rally at Uhuru Park, we obeyed the ruling. Now they must do the same to the court order that suspended their street protests," Mr Kuria said.

"If they don't suspend their protests, then we meet on Monday in the streets. I have my boys who are ready to deal with them," the first time lawmaker added.

Starehe MP Maina Kamanda backed Kuria's argument saying that the IEBC commissioners can only be sent home through Parliament.

He challenged the opposition to abide by the constitution.

This comes barely a day after Cord came up with a list of its members who will spearhead the IEBC dialogue with the Jubilee coalition.

Aden Duale could lose his parliamentary seat

Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) leader Raila Odinga has endorsed former Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim for Garissa Township parliamentary seat in 2017.

The seat is currently held by Leader of Majority in the National Assembly Aden Duale.

Duale is also a key leader in the ruling Jubilee coalition, and has always rubbed shoulders with Odinga in public.

Speaking in Garissa Town on Saturday during a Cord rally, Odinga said Maalim was the most suitable candidate to bring development to the constituency.

“Farah Maalim was brave to fight the Kanu regime in this region (North Eastern), that’s why today I want to ask you to vote him in 2017,” the opposition chief said.

Maalim’s endorsement is expected to escalate the fight for Garissa Town MP seat, as the incumbent (Duale) has never read from the same script with Odinga.

The ODM leader also asked Garissa residents to re-elect Governor Nathif Jama, to continue with the work he started more than three years ago.

Later, Odinga visited Garissa University College, where at least 148 people died following a terrorist attack last year.