Apologise to Issack Hassan for ‘return to Somalia’ calls, NE leaders ask Opposition
Several Northeastern leaders want the Opposition to apologise for an alleged call by anti-IEBC protesters for Issack Hassan to return to Somalia.
Cord leaders Raila Odinga, Moses Wetang’ula and Kalonzo Musyoka have been leading protests for the IEBC to be disbanded.
They want Hassan, who is the electoral body’s chairman, and commissioners to leave office before the 2017 general election set for August.
Raila has accused the Jubilee government and the IEBC of arguing against reforms for a democratic electoral system. He said changes being pushed by the Opposition reflect the will of the public.
Leaders who defended the chairman termed the remarks demeaning and disrespectful, and said they were issued in bad faith against a Kenyan.
Garissa Senator Yussuf Haji said: “Asking Hassan to go back to Somalia is an insult to the Somali community. Those saying so are doing so out of ignorance since we are part and parcel of this country.”
Concerning Raila, he said: “It is unfortunate that a person of his stature organises demonstrations by assembling a group of smokers whose sole aim is to engage in lawlessness. That is not right.”
He spoke at al Manar madrasa during a funds drive on Sunday. Others present were National Assembly Majority leader Aden Duale and MPs Ibrahim Abass (Ijara), Barre Shiil (Fafi), Abdi Farah (Mandera East), Mohamed Shidiye (Lagdera), Mohamed Dahiye (Daddab) and Abdinoor Mohamed(Nominated).
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, who was the chief guest, also demanded an apology saying no one can change Hassan’s status of being Kenyan.
Muturi urged Jubilee and Cord leaders to be careful about their utterances lest they lead the country into anarchy.
“As a country I do not think we headed in the right direction. The actions and utterances by our leaders are wanting. This is our country… We should respect the rule of law,” he said.
