Azimio now wants IEBC boss Wafula Chebukati to proceed on terminal leave

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition now wants Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati, as well as commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu to proceed on terminal leave.

In a meeting chaired by coalition party leader Raila Odinga in Naivasha, Azimio maintained that the attempts to kick out four IEBC commissioners is highly influenced by succession at the commission.

“It is therefore our demand that Wafula Chebukati and the other two outgoing IEBC commissioners should immediately proceed to their terminal leave to stop further cannibalization of the Commission,” the coalition said in a statement read by Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o on Friday.

Azimio maintained its opposition to the ouster proceedings of IEBC Vice Chair Juliana Cherera, Justus Nyang’aya, Irene Masit and Francis Wanderi. This as four petitions for the removal of the four commissioners are currently with the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) of Parliament.

“To this end we take serious notice of and condemn in the strongest terms possible the revenge mission the regime has embarked on against conscientious commissioners of the IEBC who had the audacity to reject the electoral coup perpetrated by the IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati while trying to sanitise the conduct of electoral thieves at the Commission,” stated Prof. Nyong’o.

In a meeting that also brought together Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and NARC Kenya leader Martha Karua, the opposition leaders said they will not stop in the push for electoral reforms in the country.

“Rigging of elections may have been clothed with the cloak of legality but it remains illegitimate and repugnant to justice. Our quest for electoral justice continues and we will never allow the rigging of elections to become a new normal in our country,” added the Kisumu Governor.

The coalition also sustained its opposition to the lifting of the GMO ban in the country.

“We shall robustly confront and oppose all dangerous policies and practices of the Kenya Kwanza regime including the sinister efforts to introduce GMO food and/or seeds, destruction of our environment including the re-introduction of the discredited ‘shamba system,’ attempts to tax the most vulnerable segments of our society including Mama Mbogas, increasing the cost of living,” said Nyong’o.

The Naivasha meeting also pushed for fair sharing of revenue in all the 47 counties.