Take the cue from Cameron and quit, Mudavadi tells IEBC team

Vihiga MP Yusuf Chanzu (standing left) converse with ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi (seated centre). Looking on is ANC women league leader Beatrice Adagala (left) and suspended Vihiga County assembly Speaker Dan Chitwah.  [PHOTOS: ERIC LUNGAI/STANDARD]

Amani National Congress party leader Musalia Mudavadi wants commissioners of the country's electoral body to take the cue from British Prime Minister David Cameron and quit now that their credibility has come into question.

"All indicators are clear that no one in the country trusts the IEBC (Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission). The commissioners should resign so that proper structures are put in place in preparation for the next General Election," Mudavadi said yesterday.

He noted the commissioners should not be offering to resign — they should quit and not wait to be pushed out.

"We need to have ample time to come up with a team that will not tamper with the tallying system, use machines that are not working and be involved in electoral malpractices," he said in reference to claims that the IEBC hand mishandled the vote count in the previous General Election.

The former Sabatia MP spoke at a requiem mass for Zipporah Kadogo at Mutsulyu Primary School in Vihiga County.

Mudavadi said Kenyan leaders must learn to respect the will of the people, especially when questions of   corruption and a general lack of trust arise.

"The referendum in the United Kingdom should act as an eye opener to our leaders. Cameron as a person said the people of UK had spoken through the referendum and noted he would respect their will by resigning," said Mudavadi, who was supported by Vihiga MP Yusuf Chanzu .

The Britons on Thursday voted to leave the European Union, prompting Cameron to announce his resignation.

Cameron, who had campaigned for the UK to remain in the EU, announced his resignation early on Friday after the side he supported was defeated. This was interpreted as a vote of no confidence in his leadership.

Mudavadi then jumped into the controversy that has pitted ODM’s Ababu Namwamba against members of his own party, by asking the Secretary General to join the ANC.

The former Deputy Prime Minister then asked other leaders to support his quest for the presidency in next year's General Election.

"ANC is an all-inclusive party. We welcome our brothers who are not happy anywhere else, including those in ODM to join us," said Mudavadi.

Last week, some members of the Orange party announced that Namwamba had been ousted as secretary general. ODM's top brass however moved in quickly to discount these claims.