We are ready to go home, IEBC commissioner says

Interim Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Vice Chairperson Lilian Mahiri Zaja has said they [IEBC commissioners] are ready to go home for the sake of peace in the country.

Speaking at Kehancha Town in Kuria West Sub County when she attended advocacy training on FGM, Mahiri said it would be unfair to throw the country into crisis because of nine people.

She said that they are prepared to go home, should the committee formed to deliberate on their fate decide too.

This comes amid the ongoing deliberation between CORD and Jubilee on the fate of the poll body.

Political leaders allied to the CORD coalition have alleged that the commission is in bed with Jubilee, and therefore it cannot be trusted to conduct free and fair elections.

Currently, the fate of the commission lies in the hands of a committee constituted by members of CORD and Jubilee coalitions.

Fighting FGM

At the same function, Former Marakwet East MP and the current Anti-FGM Board Chair, Lina Jebii Kilimo warned  law enforcers of dire consequences, should they fail to implement the laws against the cut in Migori County.

Speaking during the opening of a three-day anti-FGM advocacy training programme on Monday, Kilimo said that the law enforcers have a duty to implement the laws, which were enacted in 2011.

While addressing the provincial administrators, the residents of Kuria and other non-governmental organizations, the the anti-FGM crusader tasked the law enforcers with upping their game in the war against FGM.

“You will be held responsible in any case of FGM reported. Execute you duties without fear and favor to bring to an end FGM in this region,” she said.

Kuria West Member of Parliament Mathias Robi, who was also in attendance, urged the community to abandon FGM, saying that it has derailed development in the region.

Meanwhile, a group dubbed Keeping the Promise led similar campaigns in Baringo County on Monday.

Commission Chair Winfrey Michuma said that their mission was to seek a commitment from the county government to prevent and bring to an end the violence.

She said that shoddy investigations led to the crumbling of most of the cases – an issue that she asked the county government to address promply.