CORD leaders set to challenge security law in court

CORD leader Raila Odinga

Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) has set the stage to get back at Jubilee over the security law it has strongly opposed and termed oppressive and an affront to the Constitution.

The Standard has established the Opposition will move to court today to challenge the law assented to by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday last week, once the gazette notice is out.

CORD’s co-principal and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga’s Press Secretary Dennis Onyango Sunday confirmed the coalition will file the case today at the High Court.

 Mr Onyango said the coalition has settled on two approaches to challenge the legality of the security law: to explore the court option and, depending on the outcome, advance its second weapon.

 “We are going to court tomorrow (Monday). The ODM party leader is out of town but will be flying in in the morning to accompany our team of lawyers to file the case,” he said, adding:

 “Our legal experts are piecing together provisions highlighted as contentious and which touch on civil liberty. We are optimistic we will not have any delays.”

Senators Hassan Omar (Mombasa) and Boni Khalwale (Kakamega) said the technical team led by Antony Mwangi (constitutional expert) and Senator James Orengo of Siaya are working on the matter.

“We have prepared our case. We are only waiting for the gazette notice of the security bill and the Act for us to move to court. Once we get the two publications from the Government printer, we will be set to move,” said Mr Omar.

Mass action

ODM’s Political Affairs Secretary Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja MP) and Peter Kaluma of Homa Bay Town also told The Standard the party has identified more than 10 lawyers who will represent it in court.

Mr Wandayi said the coalition is strategising on how to execute "the mother of all mass actions" to put pressure on the Jubilee administration to repeal the law.

“Our legal experts are already looking into the provisions of the law. They are tasked with the duty of ensuring the law does not infringe on the rights of Kenyans,” said Wandayi.

Mr Kaluma said other Kenyans, including himself, will be filing individual petitions to challenge the law.

Kaluma, who was part of the negotiation team, said he had many amendments he wanted to move but was denied the opportunity.

“I will be seeking a directive from the court on account that I was denied a chance to move my amendments which were already in the order paper,” he revealed.