As the debate on Cord’s Madaraka Day celebrations continues to draw mixed reactions from several quarters, the critical issue of dialogue on the IEBC remains unresolved.
The call for talks over the IEBC impasse has now been pushed to the periphery as the country’s two main coalitions; Jubilee and Cord set their eyes on Madaraka Day celebrations.
Cord has vowed to hold parallel Madaraka Day celebrations at Uhuru Park, despite claims that the venue has already been booked by another group to conduct prayers.
On Saturday, Cord, led by its chief Raila Odinga insisted the Uhuru Park rally must go on.
“We will go to Uhuru Park for the Madaraka Day celebrations whether the government likes it or not because President Uhuru Kenyatta has moved to Nakuru for the same,” Raila said Saturday in Mombasa.
A section of Jubilee MPs have however vowed to attend the prayer rally, setting the stage for a clash between Cord and Jubilee supporters.
But what is lost in this Uhuru Park debate is the call for the IEBC dialogue.
Cord is pushing for the ouster of the commission’s top officials claiming they are partisan and so cannot manage the 2017 polls.
The coalition held protests for four weeks to push for the commissioners’ resignation but was forced to suspend the demos after three of its supporters died last week in Kisumu and Siaya counties.
“We will be at Uhuru Park to pray on Wednesday and we will not entertain disruptive political shenanigans by Cord to use the grounds on that day,” said Dennis Waweru, Embakasi South MP.
If the two coalitions make real their threats, there is a likelihood of a confrontation between their supporters and the aftermath could be devastating.
As such, the blame game will take centre stage further shadowing the major issue at hand, the IEBC.
By the time the blame dust settles, it will be June 6 and Cord will be going back to the streets to push for the disbandment of the commission.