NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 17 — Safina Party Leader Jimi Wanjigi has challenged President William Ruto to take action on alleged crimes committed at the Bomas of Kenya.
Wanjigi said President Ruto’s revelations on incidents at the IEBC National Tallying Centre (NTC) during the 2022 presidential election would be meaningless if not backed by decisive action.
He was referring to Ruto’s sentiments on chaos at the NTC headquartered at the Bomas of Kenya where the President, then Deputy President, said a plot had been hatched to eliminate Wafula Chebukati, the Chairperson of the electoral commission.
“The Ruto Government should take action on the serious crimes alleged in the Bomas of Kenya,” Wanjigi said.
Erosion of confidence
He added that Ruto’s statement would erode the confidence attached to presidential proclamations if nothing comes out of them.
“In the executive, his actions carry weight; they speak far louder than any words could do on their own.”
“What he said today was largely meaningless unless he is, in fact, prepared to back it up by taking steps,” the businessman-turned-politician stated.
He singled out alleged bribery of officials of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), threats to their families and an attempt to murder Chebukati as issues that need prompt action.
Speaking during a session with members of independent commission on Tuesday, President Ruto revealed an apparent plot to kidnap and murder IEBC Chairperson to overthrow the popular will of Kenyan voters.
Ruto said unnamed individuals wanted Chebukati out of the way so that a faction led by IEBC Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera could take over.
He said the faction had instructions to support his arch rival, Raila Odinga.
President Ruto said the plan to subvert the will of the people was hatched by senior politicians. The plot, he said, started with what he described as skewed hiring of four commissioners who attempted to stonewall Chebukati’s declaration.
Cherera faction
The plot, according to the Head of Stated, involved infiltrating the commission by planting the four breakaway commissioners.
He also said those behind the plot used blackmail, threats, abductions, extortion and intimidation of various IEBC officials, so as to have a preferred candidate declared the winner.
Ruto said the plotters had calculated to eliminate Chebukati if he resists bribery and intimidation in what could have incapacitated the commission and potentially rendered the outcome of the election a nullity.
Other than vesting powers to declare the outcome of a presidential election in the Chairperson of IEBC, the law requires that election results are declared within seven days of voting.
“We know that there was a direct attempt to abduct Wafula Chebukati and murder him so that the commission would be paralyzed, or a compliant commission to take over and subvert the people’s sovereignty,” President Ruto stated.
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