The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has faulted Azimio leader Raila Odinga over his remarks, calling for the resignation of chairperson Wafula Chebukati ahead of Kakamega and Mombasa gubernatorial polls.
In a statement dated Wednesday, August 24, the IEBC accused the former Prime Minister of misleading Kenyans regarding the management of the suspended polls.
IEBC explained that the postponed elections slated for Monday, August 29, will be overseen by Returning Officers, not Chebukati.
The commission clarified that returning officers charged with conducting the exercise had already been gazetted before the elections were called off.
Azimio flagbearer Raila Odinga and his spokesman Prof. Makau Mutua addressing the media in a past event
“The Commission wishes to inform the public that the statements made today by Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga with regard to the role of the Chairman in the two Gubernatorial elections scheduled for Monday, August 29, 2022 are misleading,” its statement read in part.
“Gubernatorial elections are run by gazetted Returning Officers as provided for by the law. For avoidance of doubt, Returning Officers for Mombasa and Kakamega counties are Ibrahim Swalhah Yusuf and Joseph Ayatta, respectively,” the commission added.
While speaking in Mombasa on Wednesday, August 14, Raila accused Chebukati of committing an electoral offence, thus asking him to step aside.
“We want the Kakamega and Kakamega elections to be overseen by IEBC Deputy Chairperson Juliana Cherera. Chebukati as an accused person should disqualify himself,” Raila stated.
He argued that the accusations levelled against Chebukati were valid to remove him from office. He further accused the IEBC chairperson of colluding with opponents to suspend polls in Kakamega and Mombasa.
Raila made the remarks while in a campaign rally in Mombasa, wooing electorates to support the ODM candidate Abdulswamad Nassir. He was accompanied by his running mate Martha Karua and a host of Azimio politicians.
Nassir, the Mvita outgoing Parliament member, will square it out with United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Hassan Omar.
Omar is backed by former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, who joined Kenya Kwanza, whose bid was squashed by the Supreme Court ruling.
In Kakamega, Azimio fielded Fernandes Barasa to battle it out with UDA’s Cleophas Malala in a bid to succeed Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, who has served to two terms.
His sentiments came days after he filed a petition at the Supreme Court challenging IEBC chairperson’s decision to declare William Ruto as the President-elect.
Azimio has maintained that Chebukati should not oversee a re-run should the apex Court send Kenyans back to the ballot.
File image of Mvita Member of Parliament Abdulswamad Nassir.
File
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