Cord to disqualify candidates who engage in violence

By Mangoa Mosota

Head of Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) joint nomination board Franklin Bett has warned that the alliance will disqualify candidates who engage in violence or hate speech.

Bett, who was appointed at the weekend to head the board, gave a stern warning to aspirants who may be intending to cause mayhem in the primaries.

“They (aspirant who cause and condone acts of violence) will have themselves to blame. We are monitoring cases of violence and any aspirant or whose supporters engage in violence, will be disqualified,” Mr Bett told The Standard on phone.

He said there was need for supporters of all parties who are members and those affiliated to CORD to maintain peace before, during and after the nominations. The nomination exercise for the alliance is slated for January 17.

He urged aspirants to tame their supporters by preaching peace and avoiding inflammatory remarks.

“We as the nomination board will also take action on leaders in the alliance who engage in hate speech that would easily cause violence.”

He said CORD Alliance campaigns must espouse the ideals it stands for.

“We fully support democracy, but it cannot thrive where there is fear, and unwillingness to give room to divergent views,” he said.

There have been cases of violence in the past week, related to the March General Elections.

On Saturday, supporters of Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo clashed with those of his opponent. The incident led to one youth being stabbed on the abdomen.

The clash forced one of Mr Midiwo’s bodyguards to shoot in the air twice in order to disperse the rowdy mob.

Last week, a mob stormed the venue of the launch of bid for Migori governor seat by Fred Otieno, eldest son to Public Service Minister Dalmas Otieno.

The event aborted after the inference. And last week, Anne Anyanga, gubernatorial aspirant for the same county, had her campaign rally in Rongo town disrupted by a rowdy youth.