CORD Statement on Nominations for the 2013 General Elections

Franklin Bett (left) Cord co-chairmen Dalmas Otieno (centre) and David Musila (right) confer during a news conference January 5, 2013 at Serena Hotel, Nairobi. Cord parties will hold joint nominations.

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD), having exhaustively consulted widely among its member parties and its various coalition management organs, wishes to inform our supporters and those who have expressed interest in offering themselves for nomination for the positions of Governor, Senator, Woman Member of the National Assembly, Ordinary Member  of the National Assembly and Member of the County Assembly in their respective member parties as follows:
 

1. That nominations to all the named positions will be held on Thursday, 17th January 2013.
2. That the nominations shall be conducted jointly by FORD Kenya, ODM, Wiper Democratic Movement -­‐ Kenya and all other partner parties that have signed the Coalition Agreement. 
3. That the nominations shall be conducted by universal suffrage through secret ballot.
4. That for avoidance of doubt, the names of all candidates for each position shall appear in one common ballot paper clearly indicating the name and symbol of sponsoring partner party. 
5. That polling stations for the purposes of these nominations, which shall open at 8.00 hrs and close at 17.00 hrs, shall be published by the CORD Elections Board not later than seven (7) days before the nominations. 
6. That to qualify to participate in nominations, electors names must appear in the IEBC Voters’ Register and proof of identification shall be either a National Identity Card or Kenyan Passport. No other identification document will be accepted. 
7. That at the close of voting, votes shall be counted and results announced at the polling stations which shall later be tallied at Constituency and County Tallying Centres. 
8. That the County and Constituency Returning Officers, Presiding Officers and clerks for the exercise shall be identified,appointed and supervised by the CORD Elections Board and NOT by aspirants or any other entity. 
9. That each successful candidate in the nominations shall be issued with a certificate of nomination by his or her sponsoring partner party. 
10. That the CORD Election Board has been mandated to expressly disqualify any candidate who engages in, sponsors or in any way abets violence prior to, during or after the nomination exercise.
11. That the following have been appointed members of the CORD Elections board:

• Hon. Franklin Bett Chair
• Sammy M. Mbova, CBS Vice Chair
• Ezekiel Wafula Secretary Other members include:
• Everett Wasike
• Hon. Judy Pareno
• Roy M. Mutisya
• Mary Muhuhu

The CORD Elections Board shall issue more details regrading this exercise in due course.

Dated in Nairobi this 5th January 2013
 
Signed: Hon. David Musila 
Hon. Dalmas Otieno

CORD Statement on the Struggle for a New Kenya

The official launch of CORD has coincided with two momentous events that will shape Kenya's politics for decades to come. The first is that a historic 14.3 million Kenyans registered to vote, many of them travelling very long distances to do so. We know that the thirst for democracy in our country is unquenchable. At the same time, we are conscious that there are a few million others who were unable to register. That will never happen again.

The other event is the approval by Parliament of the first-ever Inspector General of Police, David Kimaiyo, who had been nominated by the President and the Prime Minister. These two events have eased many anxieties that Kenyans felt ahead of the election.

As all of us know, the upcoming election is the most definitive one of this generation. This is borne out by a level of politicking that is unprecedented in its intensity in our history. The stakes are very high but the choices are also equally clear. There are two political currents that are in contention, with diametrically opposed visions for the future of our country. One is CORD’s, which stands for fundamental change emphasizing national unity, justice for all, and equitable distribution of our nation's resources. The other side represents the status quo so deeply that it is mired in internal strife, unable to agree on anything except their distaste for those committed to reform.

Indeed, many leaders who were previously with the other side have already left after discovering there was no room for their diverse views, and that in fact there was little public support for the group’s ideology even among the people they claim to represent.

It is clear now from the figures just released by the IEBC that CORD will romp to the largest presidential victory of our multi-party era. We expect, given the level of support for our various parties, to win the presidential election with more than eight million votes, at least 160 parliamentary seats, and 29 seats each for governorships and the Senate. CORD will also win more than 30 women seats and gain the majority in more than 31 county assemblies.

But we urge our supporters to come out in large numbers since even this margin of victory will not ensure that we can push the legislative changes that Kenyans are demanding for a better life. Ours is a completely open tent which has the capacity and desire to accommodate all Kenyans committed to justice, inclusion, growth and equity. We CORD partners ask you to join us tomorrow to celebrate the beginning of a national unity and prosperity anchored for full equality for all Kenyans and their counties.

Anyang’ Nyong’o, Mutula Kilonzo, David Eseli 
21 12 12