Why some political parties oppose Irungu Nyakeira nomination

Irungu Nyakeira former PS. Photo: Courtesy.

Contestants seeking membership of the steering committee membership Political Parties Liaison Committee (PPLC) are demanding that Irungu Nyakeira, former Permanent Secretary in the then Ministry of Devolution and Planning State Department of Planning and Statistics and now a member of Democratic Party of Kenya (DP), be barred from contesting for any position in the upcoming PPLC elections.

In their hard-hitting joint press statement on Irungu’s nomination to contest for the chairmanship of the steering committee of PPLC, the group has smelled a foul play in Irungu’s candidature.

“We have noted with regrets just like many other Kenyans and the membership of PPLC that one Mr Irungu Nyakeira has received a nomination to run for the position of Chairman PPLC”, read part of the statement.

The group has incriminated Irungu of corruption cases saying he is unfit to hold a public office.

In addition, the group say the former PS has engaged in election malpractice owing to the voter bribery allegations coined to his name.

“His name features in an active corruption and theft of public money case that is currently under investigations and therefore he is not fit to hold any public office since he will be offending the provisions of chapter six of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 under leadership and integrity. Let him clear his name first”, read the statement.

The Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) and Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is also on the spotlight, according to the group, for failing to adhere to election regulations deterring candidates lacking integrity from contesting for a public office.

“the ORPP and IEBC have also failed to enforce the requirements of chapter 6 (Leadership and Integrity) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 on the individuals seeking leadership under PPLC as a public office”, read the statement.

By the time of publishing this article, our attempts to get Irungu's side of the story were futile as his phone went unanswered several times. 

The group, however, is demanding the IEBC and ORPP to act autonomously on the issue and prevent Irungu and his “ilk” from contesting the upcoming elections.

The Political Parties Act establishes Political Parties Liaison Committee at the national and county level with a prime role of creating a platform for multiparty dialogue between Registrar OF Political Parties and, Electoral Commission and Political parties.