Why numerous Kenyans don’t like IEBC

The government of President Uhuru Kenyatta is facing some serious political turbulence as exemplified by the ongoing weekly demonstrations.

The fact that the street demonstrations meant to force out election commissioners have now spread to other towns across the country, including Meru, means that this has stretched the capacity of anti-riot officers.

During street demonstrations in the 90s against Kanu tyranny, then President Daniel arap Moi would always be forced to back down and negotiate, although it is at the negotiating table where he would win because of greed by the divided Opposition.

To the discerning eye, Uhuru must be getting the wrong political and economic advice. The history of democratic struggle in Kenya shows that when the Opposition unites around a popular and emotive issue, then the incumbent is best advised to come out and negotiate.

There is no denying that today’s Opposition controls half of the nation. It cannot make much sense that even after the church offered to mediate, the State House politicos, who feel threatened at the eating trough, would shun and rubbish this offer on the grounds that the Constitution does not allow it.

Many in this country do not like IEBC at all for various reasons. For example, the outfit has not even bothered to prepare guidelines for vetting 2017 candidates to actualise Section 6 of the Constitution on integrity. For a country that is ravaged by the cancer of corruption so much, it is dereliction of duty by IEBC to allow criminals to run for political office without subjecting them to this kind of test.

CORD leader Raila Odinga is a very poor negotiator as shown in the book ‘Peeling Back the Mask’ by Miguna Miguna. There is therefore no basis of Uhuru fearing to meet him across the table.

It would be illegal to appoint political friends to IEBC because the law does not allow it. Those to be appointed should not have engaged in politics for the last five years.

With religious leaders as mediators, there is little chance that Odinga can get away with more meat than necessary.

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