Jubilee leaders oppose CORDs call for disbandment of IEBC

Leaders from Mount Kenya region have taken exception over the opposition’s demand to have the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials removed from office just a year and three months to the General Elections terming the demands as uncalled for.

Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti said the opposition was crying foul since the current IEBC was constituted during the tenure of former Prime Minister and opposition leader Raila Odinga and former President Mwai Kibaki.

He called on the IEBC officers not to be cowed by the opposition saying CORD’s demands to eject them from office amounts to intimidation and victimization of the officers.

The Senator said IEBC officers are ready to oversee next year’s General Elections and thus their quest should not be derailed by the opposition.

He said there are legal mechanisms to deal with accusations that the opposition has on the various IEBC officers and called on the opposition to have trust in independent institutions.

Senator Kivuti was speaking during women leaders meeting chaired by Deputy President’s wife Rachael Ruto at Ummau grounds, Mbeere South Sub County

Mrs Ruto called on Kenyans to elect visionary and development conscious leaders saying President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto have shown exemplary leadership and should be given many more terms to serve the country.

Chuka Igamba Ng’ombe MP Muthomi Njuki and Tharaka Nithi Women Representative Beatrice Nkatha castigated CORD leaders for trying to eject the IEBC commissioners calling them to follow the stipulated procedures in removing the commissioners.

Muthomi called for arrest of the three CORD Principals for inciting Kenyans against IEBC commissioners.

CORD leaders have been calling for the reconstitution of the IEBC  for purposes of credibility and peaceful, fair and democratic elections in 2017.

Speaking during a heated debate on Citizen TV’s Power Breakfast show Tuesday morning, Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa argued that if the queries raised against IEBC are not addressed appropriately, the country risks being thrown into chaos before or after the next year’s elections.

Police were Monday afternoon forced to use teargas to thwart attempts by Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leaders to storm IEBC offices at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi.

There was tension at the poll body’s offices hours to the arrival of CORD leader Raila Odinga, co-principals Moses Wetangula and Kalonzo Musyoka for the much-publicised protest march with over 50 police officers deployed to cordon off the offices.