CORD in plan to sack IEBC bosses, say Jubilee MPs

KENYA: Some Jubilee MPs have claimed that attempts to shift the General Election date from August to December are part of a calculated move by the Opposition to sack commissioners of the Independent Election and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) before the next polls.

Led by National Assembly Leader Aden Duale, the MPs accused the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) of hatching a plan to lock out the current IEBC commissioners from conducting the next elections.

Mr Duale said even if Kenyans agreed to change the election date from August to December 2017, they would bring a motion in the National Assembly to extend the tenure of the current IEBC commissioners by one year.

"We will not allow the Opposition's plan to replace the current IEBC commissioners before the next polls to succeed now that we are privy to their plan," said Duale.

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The term of the current IEBC commissioners, including that of Chairman Issack Hassan, is expected to end in November 2017, just one month before the proposed election date.

Ruiru MP Esther Gathogo said IEBC has already started to plan for the next General Election and replacing it before the polls would be a grave mistake. Alice Ng'ang'a (Thika Town) accused CORD leader Raila Odinga of being hypocritical by saying he was opposed to the bid to change the date of the next polls.

"Jubilee is convinced that Raila knows what is going on and he should stop fooling Kenyans that he does not support the proposal," said Ms Ng'ang'a.

Speaking at Kahawa Sukari ACK Church in Nairobi on Sunday, other MPs who echoed similar sentiments include nominated MP Abdi Noor, Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), John Njoroge (Kasarani) Jude Njomo (Kiambu) nominated senator Naisula Lesuuda and Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi.

Raila, while speaking during a morning talk show at a local radio station, said he is opposed to a bid to change the date of the next General Election.

"There is no logic in extending the election date. These MPs just want additional months to continue earning fat salaries," he said.