Don’t politicise exit of IEBC commissioners, Water CS Eugene Wamalwa tells leaders

Water CS Eugene Wamalwa (centre) during his tour of the Kocholia Irrigation project at River Malakisi in Teso North. Wamalwa has urged leaders to handle the Independent, Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners’ exit debate soberly. (PHOTO: TITUS OTEBA/ STANDARD)

Water Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa has urged leaders to handle the Independent, Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners’ exit debate soberly.

He observed that the issue needs thorough consultation to ensure smooth transition and called on politicians to exercise political good will and support the commissioners to finalise their work and deliver their mandate unperturbed.

“No politician should force the commissioners to leave office by February as is being demanded by Opposition leaders. We need thorough consultations, let us handle this issue with utmost maturity so that the smooth transition can be realised,” he said.

He continued: “We don’t want the country to plunge into skirmishes like in 2007/08. Let all leaders and politicians exercise maturity in handling their exit, forcing them out of office is dangerous for the country,” he said.

The CS has observed that IEBC is a constitutional office and the commissioners will only leave office when everything has been put in place to allow a smooth transition.

“I am cautioning leaders to stop plunging this country into a state of crisis. Let us address the IEBC issue with sober minds so that we have a good team in place to handle the next General Election,” said Wamalwa.

Wamalwa also weighed in on the health workers strike and said the government is ready and willing to talk with their officials so that they can end the ongoing stalemate which has paralysed public health institutions in the country.

The Cabinet Secretary was speaking in Kocholia village in Teso North Constituency yesterday during the unveiling of a Sh5.6 Irrigation scheme