"CORD has resolved to temporarily suspend demonstrations that were
scheduled for next Monday 30th May, 2016 to give dialogue and peace a
chance," an opposition statement said.
Kenyan
opposition Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD), supporters
protest at the premises hosting the headquarters of Independent
Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to demand the disbandment of
the electoral body ahead of next year's election in Nairobi, Kenya, May
9, 2016.
Kenya's main
opposition coalition said on Wednesday it would suspend its weekly
protests against the election commission to give calls for dialogue a
chance.
Three people were killed on Monday in clashes between demonstrators and police in Nairobi
and other cities during rallies against the Independent Electoral and
Boundaries Commission (IEBC) led by opposition leader Raila Odinga's
CORD coalition. Clashes also flared during three other protests.
The
next presidential and parliamentary polls in Kenya, East Africa's
largest economy, are not due until August 2017 but politicians are
already trying to galvanise supporters in a country prone to political
strife. Violence erupted after the 2007 vote and the opposition disputed
the outcome in 2013.
The
opposition accuses the IEBC of bias and wants its commissioners to be
replaced. IEBC members dismiss the charges, while the government has
accused the opposition of criticising the IEBC because they cannot win
via the ballot box.
On Tuesday, U.S., British and other Western ambassadors called for talks to resolve the issue.
"CORD
has resolved to temporarily suspend demonstrations that were scheduled
for next Monday 30th May, 2016 to give dialogue and peace a chance," an opposition statement said.
The
suspension of the protests, which have been staged each Monday since
April 25 bar one, would expire on June 5 if the ruling Jubilee coalition
does not agree to talks, CORD said.
The
government says any changes must be pursued within the provisions of the
constitution, which could include a petition to parliament. However,
parliament is dominated by allies of President Uhuru Kenyatta and a
previous bid was thrown out.
"The combustible
mixture of opposition protests and police brutality poses a risk of
rising tensions ahead of, and potentially after, the 2017 ballot," said Philip Walker, regional Africa editor for the Economist Intelligence Unit.
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