Raila: I’m not scared by threats of arrest

Cord leader Raila Odinga Sunday warned the Jubilee government to prepare for consequences if his call for national dialogue before July 7 is not heeded.

Mr Odinga warned at a rally at Tononoka grounds in Mombasa Sunday that the people can exercise their sovereign power either directly or through their representatives.

Earlier, while attending a church service at Neno Evangelism Church, Mr Odinga said he was not afraid of being arrested for his crusade.

“I have been arrested many times in this country, arresting me is not an issue, Ole Lenku you have been appointed to do your work, just do it and don’t politicise issues,” he said.

And during the rally, he said he was acting on behalf of the people, who, according to the Constitution, hold the sovereign power.

“The power of Uhuru Kenyatta, the power of the Judiciary, the power of elected leaders at national or county levels are donated by the people,” he said.

He that it was the same power of the people that he was using to call for the national dialogue to discuss about pertinent issues afflicting the country.

And speaking in Kiswahili, Mr Odinga said: “Ukiona mwenzake akinyolewa, tia chako maji. Usipotia utanyolewa bila maji,” he said.

It was not immediately clear what the analogy referred to.

The minority leader in the Senate, Mr Moses Wetangula, said the people’s journey for liberating themselves had started in earnest and it was unstoppable.

“We shall be the first among equals. We must agree enough is enough and not allow a few people to mortgage this country for their selfish interests,” he said.

“The country must be returned to the people because since independence we have never seen a foreign country close its consulate, send planes to fly out their people, mosques and churches bombed – we have never seen something like this.”

He warned that if President Uhuru Kenyatta and his government do not want to have dialogue they should not blame anybody after Saba Saba, the day when Cord has said it will lead a rally in Nairobi to demand dialogue with the government over national problems including insecurity, corruption and high cost of living.

He said Cord’s dream was to liberate Kenyans from corruption, unemployment, high cost of living, poverty and increased insecurity among other ills.

“A dream can be frustrated, it can be delayed, but can never be killed or defeated. We want a Kenya where everyone has a right to be proud to be a Kenyan. As Cord, we want equal opportunity for all regardless of your tribe, ethnicity, colour, religion or race,” he said.

He, too, said he was not afraid of being arrested.

When it was Mr Odinga’s turn to address the rally, he said Kenyans were tired with the problems they were facing.

“You heard what the people’s representatives said here that this country is facing difficult times socially, economically and politically and this is the essence of our call for national dialogue with Jubilee government,” he said.

He said that if Jubilee will not heed their call before SabaSaba (July 7) they should brace themselves for the consequences that follow thereafter.

He, however, did not elaborate what these consequences would be.

Both President Kenyatta and his deputy, Mr William Ruto, have asked Cord to channel any issues it may have through the national assembly.

And yesterday, National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale said action should be taken against leaders who incite the public.

At Tononoka, and amid shouts of “Uhuru must go”, Mr Odinga once again declared Saba Saba a public holiday and asked the public not go to work but instead join their local leaders to press for dialogue.

“The donkey is tired of carrying loads and loads of weight and time has come for these to be removed before they break its back,” he said adding that taxes on essential goodies had caused commodity prices to rise beyond the means of ordinary wananchi.

He also told Lands, Housing and Urban Planning Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu to stop interfering with the National Land Commission’s mandate of dealing with land issues in the country.

Ms Ngilu has been involved in a turf war with the commission’s chairman, Mr Mohammad Swazuri. The dispute has affected service delivery at the Lands Ministry.

Neno Evangelism Mombasa Centre Bishop Robert Wafula called on the leaders both in the Opposition and the Government to work together to ensure the security and safety of all Kenyans.

By Mwakwera Mwajefa, Gitonga Marete, Galgalo Bocha and Wachira Mwangi