IEBC has enlisted Koreans to rig election, CORD leaders claim

“It is Jubilee that is pushing IEBC to stay, but we cannot just watch someone sharpen a knife in readiness for our slaughter. We will continue with our protests until IEBC Chairman Isaak Hassan and his team go home,” said Raila, while scoffing at a statement made by Hassan last week that IEBC could bar CORD from the elections.

“Hassan is saying that they will bar us from contesting for elections. What kind of election will that be? IEBC is deaf, but we will push them out,” he vowed.

Legal action

But an electoral commissioner, Mr Thomas Letangule, told the Opposition to stop peddling falsehoods.

He also defended the commission against claims that it was in Jubilee’s pocket.

“We don’t talk with Jubilee. Jubilee has never even contacted us. Do we have to wait for Jubilee to tell us what we need to do and what our rights are under the Constitution?”  he asked.

The Opposition is pushing for the exit of the commissioners on grounds that they cannot be trusted to hold a free and fair election. The coalition has vowed to organise protests every Monday until the commissioners give way. They accuse them of rigging the 2013 elections in favour of the ruling coalition.

Unlike last week, the CORD principals did not attempt to forcefully gain access to the commission’s offices. After addressing the crowd, they left but their supporters led by Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Chairman John Mbadi and the party’s Director of Elections, Junet Mohammed attempted to breach the police cordon, but were thwarted metres to the entrance.

At this point, police were forced to disperse the rowdy crowd that hurled stones at motorists and innocent by-standers. A number of people, including journalists were injured in the fracas.

It was not immediately clear whether IEBC commissioners were in their offices as the protests went on outside

A number of university students watching the drama from across the street were also affected by teargas. Wetangula reiterated the coalition’s threat that it will not participate in the elections unless the commissioners leave office.

“There will be no elections without reforms. We have had Jubilee telling us that elections will be free and fair. How can our competitors convince us that we go to an election which is already rigged?” said Wetangula.

But speaking to The Standard, IEBC Chief Executive Officer Ezra Chiloba said preparations for 2017 elections will proceed despite the political noise.

“I don’t want to speak on what is going on or on behalf of the commissioners. All I can say is that we are going ahead with our preparations and assure Kenyans that we are doing our work diligently,” said Chiloba.

Dismissed claims

Leader of Majority in the National Assembly Aden Duale dismissed claims that CORD that IEBC is working at the behest of the ruling coalition. He wondered why CORD has insisted on street protests to remove the commissioners, yet there is a constitutional procedure.

Further, the leaders termed the killing of businessman Jacob Juma a “continuation of impunity by the Jubilee administration”.

“I’m sure his government shall never get to the bottom of Juma’s murder. I urge you to vote in Cord in the elections as payback for his murder,” claimed Raila.