Odinga, who has described the bill as “draconian,” wants President Uhuru Kenyatta to withdraw the bill in its totality and then have, “government and opposition discuss.”
“It is not for lack of laws that we have insecurity in the country. We have a security regime out of tune with changed times,” his spokesman Dennis Onyango quoted him as saying.
During Friday’s Jamhuri day celebrations, President Kenyatta empasised that while the security bill might need some amendments, it was necessary in the war against terror.
“CIC have pointed out a few issues and I accept the changes, but tusipige tu kelele za siasa (let’s not just make political noise),” he said.
On Saturday, the former Prime Minister also defended himself against accusations that he did less for the people of Kibera in the period he represented them in Parliament, than President Kenyatta has done in less than two years.
“Kibera upgrading was frustrated by Uhuru who was Finance Minister. Let him finish the houses we started,” he claimed.
He also defended the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) against President Kenyatta’s accusations that they were politicising security issues and giving terrorists a win.
“Opposition stood with government during west gate and we agreed to have inquiry. We will still support inquiry,” he said.
CORD Senators led by Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula on Wednesday said they were ready to move to court to fight the bill.
“I think we are bringing the law relating to sedition through the back door—if you look at this Bill, it’s not only seeking to change our way of life, it is also trying to erode the democratic space established and donated by the Constitution and more so Article 19,” his Siaya counterpart James Orengo explained.
CORD has also demanded that the bill, should it be adopted by the National Assembly, get approval from the Senate before becoming law.
The bill went through two readings on the floor of the National Assembly on Thursday and is now in the committee stage.
President Kenyatta who spoke at the Nyayo National stadium on Friday said the new bill “is the only solution to the security challenges facing the country.”
