Murkomen laughs off KANUs plan to join anti-IEBC protests

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen has laughed off plans by KANU to join the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) in their anti-IEBC protests.

Speaking in Elgeyo Marakwet on Saturday, Murkomen said that KANU had failed Kenyans during its time as government, adding that the party cannot claim to have interest in leading reforms in the country.

“KANU cannot lie that they would reform the country’s institutions yet they had 40 years to do so and failed,” said Murkomen.

“It will be a shame to former President Daniel Moi to see KANU officials join the protests on Monday and be teargased for no good reason.”

Murkomen’s sentiments came just days after KANU Secretary General said they would join CORD in their third anti-IEBC protests to be held in Nairobi on Monday.

Salat said that the party does not have faith in the electoral commission and would push for reforms in the electoral body ahead of the 2017 General Election.

Murkomen also called on CORD to be sincere in their calls for the reforms in IEBC saying they should desist from shifting goalposts on the matter.

“CORD is not serious on their calls for dialogue because they are shifty on the matter. As the Deputy Majority Leader in the Senate and a member of Legal Affairs Committee, I would like to inform CORD that we are ready to dialogue with them and listen to their views in a way that respects the integrity of the country’s institutions.”

CORD leaders have twice used the protests to push for the removal of IEBC commissioners whom they accuse of working with Jubilee to rig the next polls in favour of the incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta.

In a past interview with Citizen TV, CORD leader Raila Odinga claimed that IEBC commissioners have been promised government appointments at the end of their term after the elections if they rig President Kenyatta into power.

The opposition coalition has vowed to hold marches to IEBC offices at Anniversary Towers every Monday until the commissioners vacate office.

In a rejoinder, IEBC through its chair Issack Hassan denied the claims and called on Raila to give evidence to back his claims.

Hassan accused CORD of making defamatory statements against the commissioners saying they would only resign if the claims were substantiated.

@benjaminwafula