CORD will not contest future polls if IEBC is not reformed, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga says

Raila Odinga and Gladys Wanga sharing a word when he arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport yesterday. He called for major reforms in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. [PHOTO: ALI ALALE/STANDARD]

By GEOFFREY MOSOKU

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has torn into the electoral commission with a warning that the CORD coalition may boycott future contests managed by the body unless it is reconstituted.

Dismissing the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as Kenya’s most corrupt and error-prone electoral body, the former PM said CORD would demand fundamental reforms at the electoral body, the former PM said CORD would demand fundamental reforms at the electoral body, claiming it has lost its credibility.

“This is the most corrupt and inefficient electoral commission in the history of this country and we will not participate in another general election presided over by this body if fundamental reforms and changes are not effected,” Raila said.

The former PM launched the scathing attack on the commission at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi last evening, after arriving from a week-long tour of Australia. He said that CORD will withdraw its candidates in any election presided over by IEBC as currently constituted.

“We will withdraw our candidates from contesting because we either have competent elections or we don’t,” said the former PM.

Nairobi Women Representative Gladys Wanga, Kibra MP Ken Okoth and ODM executive Director Magerer Lang’at were at hand to receive him.

He backed former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s claims that IEBC lacks independence and subject to political meddling.

Raila accused IEBC of colluding with their opponents to scuttle his coalition’s chances of winning elections, a feat he said was now being repeated in attempts to bar lawyer Kethi Kilonzo from contesting the Makueni senatorial seat.

Kethi debacle

The ex-PM while commenting on the Kethi debacle, which is currently before the High Court, said it was apparent that the Jubilee coalition was hell bent in blocking her after she refused their approaches to vie on the ruling coalition’s ticket.

The IEBC Disputes Resolution Tribunal chaired by Thomas Letangule last week barred Kethi from the race after it agreed with claims presented by Jubilee that the lawyer was not qualified for nominations because her name was not in the Voters Register.

Raila said the Jubilee government has achieved nothing tangible for Kenyans 100 days after coming to power.

The co-principal of the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) also dismissed as having little consequence last week’s opinion poll by research firm Ipsos Synovate that said 36 per cent of Kenyans want him to retire from active politics. The former PM who is also party leader of the Orange Democratic Movement noted that the poll’s findings do not necessarily reflect the wishes of a majority Kenyans who may be in the other remaining number. The Cord leader however says he will respect opinions of Kenyans.

“Thirty-six per cent out of a hundred means a majority still prefers that I remain in politics. Everyone has his own opinions,” said Raila, 68.

The ex-premier, whose ticket with former VP Kalonzo as his running mate lost to Jubilee’s Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto in the March 4 presidential race, has in the past dismissed calls to have him retire from active politics on account of age. He is 68 years-old.

Last week’s Ipsos poll also found that 32 per cent of those polled want the ODM party leader to remain in active politics and even contest in the next elections, with another 29 per cent supporting him to remain politically active, but forgo seeking the presidency in 2017.

After the former PM lost in the March 4 election, to President Uhuru Kenyatta, there were reports he would return to Parliament, together with Kalonzo.

Active politics

Uhuru won the presidency with 50.07 per cent against Raila’s 43.31 per cent of the 12.3 million votes cast. After the polls, Raila was said to be headed back in Parliament to steer opposition politics, possibly through a by-election if an ODM MP would step down for him.

And yesterday Raila who believes his victory was once again stolen in spite of the Supreme Court ruling to the contrary, has given all indications that he is not about to withdraw from active politics and may even make another stab at the presidency.

Raila recently said his focus immediate goal is to strengthen the CORD alliance. Yesterday, the former PM used the lounge reserved for ordinary passengers with whom he mingled freely before presenting himself to journalists to answer questions.

He said he could not rate the Kenyatta-Ruto administration yet saying Kenyans will be in a better position to gauge their performance; “The jury is out on that,” he said.

On the teachers’ strike, Raila appeared to support Knut’s push to have the salary agreement of 1997 honoured saying it was legitimate and said the Government should be honest about the matter.

He told reporters that President Kenyatta was the Finance minister when the Government sought to clear outstanding dues which he (Kenyatta) said should be done after elections.

“This is a legitimate deal between the Government and teachers and they were to be paid during the Kibaki regime, but Uhuru as Finance minister proposed that the payment be done after elections. Let him own up and pay teachers their dues, “ Raila said.