‘2022 election is water under the bridge’ – Kenya Kwanza opposes audit of IEBC servers

The Kenya Kwanza Alliance has opposed calls for an audit of last year’s presidential election

Appearing before the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) at Bomas of Kenya on Tuesday, October 3, the Kenya Kwanza delegation led by United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malala told the 10-member team that the legitimacy of the current administration was settled by the Supreme Court.

“We believe that the 2022 presidential election is water under the bridge. We are a country that upholds the rule of law and we are all aware that the highest level of the Judiciary — the Supreme Court — pronounced itself on that matter,” Malala stated.

“I would like to urge Kenyans that let us all be law-abiding citizens and allow the law to prevail,” he added.

The audit of the presidential election is part of the five agenda items before the committee co-chaired by Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya Coalition Party co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah.

Azimio leader Raila Odinga is demanding audit of the 2022 presidential election, which he claims was rigged in favour of his Kenya Kwanza rival William Ruto.

The former prime minister had filed a petition at the Supreme Court seeking among other things to compel the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to allow a forensic audit of its IT system and electronic results data.

However, the Apex Court judges unanimously dismissed his petition and upheld Ruto’s election.

Several groups have also petitioned NADCO to recommend audit of the electoral servers.

Appearing before the committee last month, the Elections Observer Group (ELOG) lobby group told the dialogue team that audit of the results would help the country identify weaknesses in the country’s electoral systems with a view to making the process better.

“We need to always conduct a comprehensive audit after elections,” ELOG national coordinator Mule Musau told the committee.

“This audit should include activities carried out way before the election date; like party nominations.”

ELOG was among civil society groups which challenged the presidential election results in 2017 and 2022, citing a flawed process.

NADCO was established to mediate the dispute between the government and the opposition which saw the latter call for street demonstrations to protest against, among others, the high cost of living and electoral fraud.