Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana has sharply criticised Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka over his recent remarks on the newly nominated Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials, calling them reckless and damaging to national institutions.

Speaking on a local media station on Monday, May 12, 2025, Mungatana accused Kalonzo of undermining public trust in independent bodies by casting aspersions on the IEBC, the judiciary, and the police.

“Kalonzo Musyoka’s statement is very careless, as it politically insinuates that this IEBC belongs to William Ruto and that if he loses, it will be because of him. As a politician of his stature, standing before the media to attack our institutions and claim that the IEBC, judiciary, and police are all useless may seem like scoring bonga points, but it comes across as petty,” he stated.

Mungatana emphasised the importance of supporting national institutions rather than undermining them for political gain.

“You don’t kill our institutions. You seek to improve our institutions because we come and go. Leadership comes and goes, but institutions remain, and institutions are what creates a nation,” he stated.

IEBC reconstitution

The senator defended the selection process of the new IEBC commissioners, stating that it followed the roadmap laid out in the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) agreement, which was passed by both Houses of Parliament.

He faulted Kalonzo for delays in the process, alleging that Wiper’s internal wrangles stalled the formation of the selection panel until a nominee aligned to Kalonzo’s preference was appointed.

“The person who delayed this is the same Kalonzo Musyoka. He went to court, and the panel could not operate because they were having problems within Wiper until he got whom he wanted. And the person he wanted to be in that interview panel came in, and the process went on,” Mungatana alleged.

Nominated officials

Mungatana also defended Noor Hassan, one of the newly nominated commissioners, against insinuations of bias, questioning whether Kalonzo’s criticism was rooted in regional or personal prejudice, further asking why he hadn’t raised objections earlier when Hassan was shortlisted on March 25, 2024.

“If you have a problem with Noor Hassan, is it that you don’t want people from the north, or what is your problem?” he posed.

On the proposed IEBC chair, Erastus Edung Ethekon, Mungatana admitted he had never heard of him before but argued that this was no reason to dismiss his nomination.

“I don’t think he will influence the outcome of an election. Let’s give credit to our institutions and trust in the process.”

He dismissed claims that six names were irregularly added to the interview list, challenging Kalonzo and others to have raised the issue in court if they believed it compromised the process. “

“If these people felt there was a problem, there was nothing wrong with going to court at that point and saying this person is wrong or the interviews are irresponsible,” Mungatana said.

“Kalonzo Musyoka should know Kenyans are not foolish. We were seeing what was happening,” he added.

Rebuke

Challenging Kalonzo’s motivations, Mungatana questioned whether the opposition leader expects only his preferred candidates to be appointed to the commission.

“I feel some people fear that unless the person I want is there, then the process is not fair,” he remarked.

Mungatana reminded Kalonzo of his past positions in government, urging him to act with the dignity of a former Vice President.

“Leadership comes and goes, but institutions remain. And institutions are what create a nation,” he said, warning against attempts to discredit bodies that are vital to Kenya’s democratic process.

He called on Kalonzo and other leaders to avoid rhetoric that could destabilise public confidence.

“We need this IEBC to succeed. If we destroy it with careless words, we are destroying our future,” he asserted.