Kalonzo Musyoka, a prominent figure in the opposition group known as Wiper, has voiced his worries about the transparency and impartiality surrounding the restructuring of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). These concerns arise after an agreement was reached between President William Ruto and ex-Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
At an event held in Kiambu County, Kalonzo revealed that he had sent a letter to Odinga stressing the importance of fair representation when choosing IEBC commissioners.
“I believed Raila would support me consistently from start to finish, but now I’ve reached out to him because we need to clarify matters to avoid any misunderstandings,” Musyoka stated.
He voiced concern that the Ruto-Odinga pact could have negative repercussions for the execution of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report, specifically regarding the restructuring of the IEBC.
“We are awaiting the appropriate moment when the committee choosing the commissioners should ensure an equitable nomination process. During our discussion of the NADCO report with the Kikuyu member of parliament, I advocated for collaboration and agreement,” Musyoka stated.
The leader of the Wipers also expressed his hope for Odinga’s backing in maintaining transparency, noting that he had officially conveyed his worries to avoid any possible misunderstandings.
“As a nation, we have arrived at a point where everyone, especially our leaders, seems uncertain about Kenya’s direction. However, for us, we stand as a devoted opposition of the people,” Kalonzo stated firmly.
The reconstruction of the IEBC has been central to the NADCO talks, with officials from both the government and the opposition urging for prompt action.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah stated that tackling the reform of the IEBC is essential, whereas Kalonzo stressed that prioritizing electoral justice, including an audit of the 2022 presidential vote, should come first.
The NADCO report, which provides suggestions for electoral reforms, has faced hurdles such as legal impediments.
Following objections from a petitioner regarding its content, the High Court in Kiambu halted the execution of the decision. This has led Kalonzo to accuse the Kenya Kwanza administration of trying to obstruct the realization of the report.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).