State accused of plotting to interfere with poll agency

Opposition leader Raila Odinga yesterday accused the Kenya Kwanza government of seeking to manipulate the re-constitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for its own selfish interests.

Raila, while addressing a well-attended rally at the Kamukunji grounds in Kibra constituency, Nairobi, warned that the opposition will not sit back and watch as President William Ruto and his allies manipulate the process of picking the new IEBC commissioners.  

Raila maintained that Azimio had won last year’s presidential election by 8.1 million votes, saying the victory had been confirmed by a whistleblower.

He claimed that the then IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati (pictured) had denied them their victory.

The ODM leader added that the Opposition must be actively involved in the appointment of the next IEBC commissioners.

“IEBC is like a referee. The referee cannot be appointed by only one of the contestants. All parties must take part in the appointment of the officials,” Raila said.

Whistleblower

He said Azimio coalition will propose that every county have its elections board which will count the presidential election votes and send the results to the national tallying centre in Nairobi.

“We will not agree that Ruto and his sycophants singlehandedly appoint an electoral commission. All of us must be involved. We are the majority,” he said.

The Opposition chief repeated his statement that his party did not recognise Ruto presidency, saying his  administration is illegitimate.

“We won the election with 8.1 million votes but Chebukati denied us our victory. A whistleblower has confirmed it,” Raila said.

The Opposition chief also announced series of rallies to protest against President Ruto’s administration.

Some speakers at the rally accused Ruto’s administration of targeting the families of first and second presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi’s families in the campaign to have all Kenyans pay taxes.