Opposition Leaders Abandon Mass Action to Focus on Voter Registration

Opposition politicians led by Raila Odinga on Wednesday announced that they would no longer be calling for mass demonstrations that had been planned to protest the new elections laws signed by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The decision was made during a meeting held at the Bomas of Kenya- bringing together the major opposition parties in Kenya.

The leaders announced that in light of the mass registration drive announced by the IEBC, they would be directing their efforts towards mobilisation of new voters.

The Wednesday declaration marked the second time the Opposition had halted street protests in the past one month.

In late last year, the Opposition announced that it would put on hold planned mass protests in order to provide the Senate an opportunity to deliberate on the contentious election laws that had been passed by the Nation Assembly.

When the Senate resumed last week, the proposed law was passed and shortly after signed by President Kenyatta.

Kenyatta’s decision had caused anxiety over a possible repeat of street protests that have in the past interrupted business in the major towns.

The Opposition’s mass registration drive is expected to counter similar activities that have been launched by Jubilee in its Mt Kenya and Rift Valley strongholds.