The reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) could still take longer after it emerged a member of the selection panel is an advisor in the Office of the President.

Yesterday, a section of Azimio leaders, led by Wiper party boss Kalonzo Musyoka said the nomination of Adams Oloo to the panel is against the law.

Kalonzo argued that there could be a plot to delay the reconstitution of the electoral agency with only two years and six months to the August 2027 polls.

Addressing congregants at Eden Gospel Trumpets in Kawangware during a church service, Kalonzo implored on Dr Oloo to choose between retaining the position of the presidential advisor and service at the panel.

“There could be a plot to derail the reconstitution of the IEBC. I want to ask Dr Oloo to relinquish his position as a presidential advisor and remain in the selection panel. We know they don’t want this reconstitution of the IEBC,” charged Kalonzo. “Let us not give them an excuse to prolong the process. We know their game plan and we shall not allow them.”

Conflict of interest

Yesterday, lawyer Ndegwa Njiru lift the lid on what he termed as violation of the law if Oloo was going to sit in the panel yet he is an employee in the Office of the President, a move he argued amounts to a conflict of interest.

“The law is clear on holding public office and sitting in the selection panel. Oloo cannot be a presidential advisor and at the same time hold another public office,” said Njiru.

Njiru, a close ally of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, now wants the University of Nairobi don to step down in one of the positions.

However, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna clarified that Oloo was nominated by Azimio to represent them in the panel before Ruto picked some of the Orange party members as experts in his government.

According to Sifuna, the nomination of Oloo was done way before even the court case and urged for speedy resolution of the impasse.

At the same time, former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo, Embakasi South lawmaker Julius Mawathe and a host of local leaders and aspirants drummed up support for Kalonzo’s 2027 bid.

Waititu attacked the Kenya Kwanza administration, saying he is one of the people who criss-crossed the country marshalling support for the regime in the run-up to the 2022 polls but the administration has since abandoned them.

He said that Kenya Kwanza administration lied to the youths, women, Boda Boda riders, the low class in the society with a promise to better their lives but has since neglected them and raiding their pockets with punitive taxes.

“I am one of the people who campaigned for this government. But when they came in, we realized that everyone had been conned. Everyone was lied to and now the cost of living is very high and the youths abandoned,” said Waititu.

Sifuna vowed that he will not be intimidated in standing with the oppressed in the society.

Sifuna, who also accompanied Kalonzo to the church, told the congregants that some Orange party members had now abandoned the electorate to suffer and no longer calls out the government on its excesses.

Abandoned voters

“There are some members who have now abandoned the electorate and saying that they are tired. They want to be in government. I will continue standing with the people whenever they are being oppressed,” charged Sifuna.

Sifuna instead called on Kalonzo and the other leaders of the Azimio affiliates to remain united and work together if they are to wrestle power from President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza regime.

The developments come after the High Court sitting in Kiambu cleared the way for Parliament to forward the names of persons nominated to the electoral body’s selection panel to President William Ruto for formal appointment.

Justice Dorah Chepkwony dismissed a petition filed last year, challenging the list over claims that persons with disabilities had not been considered for the IEBC selection panel.