Kanu leaders, Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto join calls to disband IEBC

Kanu leaders and Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto have joined calls to disband the electoral commission.

Baringo Senator Gideon Moi called for reconstitution of the Independent Electoral Boundaries commission to ensure that there are free and fair elections in 2017.

"Kenyans no longer trust the commission to hold free elections and there is a need to overhaul the commission so that the country can hold free and fair elections," Gideon said.

Kanu secretary general Nick Salat and Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto echoed these sentiments, and said the recent Kericho by-election demonstrated the need to overhaul the IEBC.

"We came out of an election in Kericho  where our victory was stolen and we therefore call for an overhaul of the commissioners," Ruto said.

He said a General Election should be overseen by people who are trusted by the public.

"I personally do not think IEBC can handle election to the satisfaction of everyone," he added.

Ruto said the commissioners must acknowledge the concerns raised by stakeholders  and voluntarily leave office.

The leaders were speaking on Friday when Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary General Wilson Sossion hosted them for a wedding reception party after he tied the knot at his home in Tenwek, Bomet County.

Sossion married his fiancé Vivian Kenduiywo on Thursday at the Attorney General's Chambers in Nairobi.

This is Mr Sossion's second marriage after his first wife, with whom they had three children, died.

Knut officials also criticised the government for the proposal to ban teachers from contesting in elections.

They said teachers should be allowed to contest for elective posts without restrictions.