Expedite electoral reforms, Karua says

NAIROBI: The Government and Opposition must spearhead electoral reforms to ensure credible elections in 2017, Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua has said.

 

Ms Karua accused the Jubilee administration of trying to sweep the ‘Chickengate’ scandal under the carpet.

She said all Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials who have been adversely mentioned in the scandal must be removed from office.

“Failing to act on the issue of IEBC is a security threat. Going by the experience of 2007, the people involved should leave office immediately,” said Karua.

She challenged the Jubilee administration to speed up electoral reforms and reject any attempts to extend the terms of the current IEBC officials.

She said the continued stay in office of Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung’u is an illegality that should have been addressed in 2013.

“What is she still doing there? As long as we have not cleaned up political parties, reforming IEBC will still be a problem,” said Karua.

Speaking on the sidelines of a workshop organised by the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy (Eisa), the former Presidential candidate insisted IEBC Chairman Issack Hassan and others mentioned should leave office.

Karua said it is dangerous for a country which is still healing from the effects of 2007-2008 post election violence to be questioning the conduct of the electoral body.

The Narc Kenya leader said the Jubilee administration failed to yield to the Opposition’s push to have national dialogue over the problems facing the nation, only to start following the governors with promises.

“In other words, they have yielded to pressure and accepted dialogue, though in a different form,” she said.

The former powerful Constitutional Affairs minister said the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy resorted to the push for a referendum after Jubilee refused to heed their call for dialogue.

She said her party will continue to play oversight role on the Government.

“We shall support what is positive and offer positive criticism where we deem necessary,” she said.

The former Gichugu MP accused the Jubilee government of failing to provide good leadership despite the many promises contained in their manifesto. Karua accused President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto of failing to address basic issues like the huge wage bill, the high cost of living, unemployment and poor infrastructure.

“The performance of this Government is a D-. They have failed miserably in fulfilling their pledges two years on,” said Karua.