Azimio tells Wafula Chebukati to be fair in dealings to avoid bungled elections

Azimio la Umoja presidential flag bearer Raila Odinga and his team address a rally at Matunda Market at Likuyani on July 8, 2022. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition has asked the electoral body to stop listening to “other voices” but stick to the code of election laws as next month’s polls draw near.

The leaders feared that if not checked, infiltration by Kenya Kwanza would compromise the repute of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The leaders especially took issue with the ballot paper printing tender IEBC gave to a Greece firm which they allege Kenya Kwanza’s Moses Wetang’ula enjoys links with.

“IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati can’t tell us that he is following the Constitution to carry out his mandate yet he is listening to other voices like that of Wetang’ula on the sidelines,” said former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth calling on the Commission to remain fair and independent.

Kenneth who was alongside Azimio-One Kenya alliance presidential hopeful Raila Odinga, his running mate Martha Karua, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya among other leaders in Kakamega yesterday said their coalition was headed for victory and demanded fairness from the Commission.

Raila threw in a football riddle which characterised Wetang’ula as a shrewd football player who wanted to compromise the match (elections) by reaching out to the referee (IEBC).

“Here is Azimio football club to face off with Kenya Kwanza in a football match and Wetang’ula is acting as if he wants to bribe the referee but the attempt fails, the match resumes and Azimio scores a winning goal,” said Raila who in 2017, sued the IEBC for conducting an illegal election that was subsequently cancelled.

Chebukati has so far assured the 16,098 candidates set to be gazetted to vie in next month’s polls for the 1,882 elective seats of a free and fair contest.

The Raila-led Azimio team which had several campaign stop-overs in Kakamega said they would win the elections and wipe the floor with Kenya Kwanza which they said was in panic mode after sensing defeat.

“We have been across the larger central Kenya; Nyeri, Kiambu and Kirinyaga and the odds for an Azimio government coming to fruition are high,” said Raila in Matunda Town, Likuyani Constituency, Kakamega. “It is now upon you the Mulembe nation to turn out in large numbers and vote for me as you’ve done before.”

Karua called on the Kakamega voters to be cautious at the ballot as they were voting between those with integrity and those who lacked.

COTU boss Francis Atwoli who was at the meeting lauded the choice of Karua as Raila’s running mate saying it was a great appreciation of the women folk in the country and that it would boost Azimio’s chances of getting the women's votes.

Mombasa and Kakamega governors Hassan Joho and Oparanya said Ruto was a corrupt leader who had no zeal to deal with graft, the greatest impediment to growth.

They said the region’s leaders in Kenya Kwanza were being taken for a ride as they had been given an unrealistic target of delivering 70 per cent votes from the region to Ruto so that they get a share of a Kenya Kwanza government.

Suna East MP Junet Mohammed said Ruto has messed the country and deserved to be sent home as he lacked reform credentials.

Lugari MP Ayub Savula, Johnson Naicca (Mumias East), Emanuel Wangwe (Navakholo), Oscar Nabulindo (Matungu), and Elsie Muhanda (Kakamega County) pledged support for Raila saying he was best place to turn around the country’s economy.