Uhuru should convince IEBC commissioners to resign, says Mudavadi

Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi has differed with President Uhuru Kenyatta over his apparent inability to effect the resignation of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commissioners (IEBC) commissioners.

Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV’s Sunday Live, Mudavadi said that as president, Uhuru stands a better chance to convince the commissioners to vacate office over their alleged link to the illegal procurement of BVR kits before the 2013 elections.

“Nobody is expecting the president to fire IEBC commissioners, but he still remains the custodian of the constitution and can call for the resignation of the commissioners due to their alleged link to corruption allegations at the commission,” said Mudavadi.

“He can also use his position as president to facilitate the process of dialogue to discuss the prevalent issues surrounding IEBC with a view of finding a solution ahead of the 2017 elections.”

The ANC leader called on President Kenyatta to follow through with his calls to public servants linked to corruption to resign to pave way for investigations.

President Kenyatta has on several instances said he does not have the power to effect the removal of IEBC commissioners from office, calling on CORD and any political leaders who want the commissioners removed to follow the constitutional process of going through Parliament.

Mudavadi, who has also expressed his lack of faith in IEBC, said the gravity of the matter is evidenced from the growing voices of discontent from foreign diplomats, labour movements, the Church and political leaders from different parties.

On the ongoing anti-IEBC protests, the 2017 presidential aspirant said CORD leaders are within their constitutional right to hold protests against the electoral body, calling on police to provide security during the protests instead of dispersing the protestors.

“The constitution makes street protests legal. The protests should however be peaceful and not turn violent with the police’s role being limited to providing security for protesters to prevent injuries and destruction of property,” said the ANC leader.

“CORD’s protests are not against the government but IEBC. This should therefore be a key factor that should make Jubilee interested in solving the issue.”

“We have noticed that Kenyan elections are always followed by acts of violence and if there is something we can do to prevent the recurrence of post-election violence, like the ones witnessed in 2007, then we should do so.”

Mudavadi also called on IEBC commissioners to yield to calls of concern and step aside to give way for investigations into the allegations of corruption leveled against them.

CORD has been vocal in calling for the resignation of IEBC commissioners over corruption allegations and apparent plans to rig incumbent President Kenyatta back to power.

Last month, CORD leader Raila Odinga claimed that IEBC commissioners had been promised jobs at the end of their term after the 2017 elections if they rig him back to office, allegations that the commissioners have refuted.

The opposition coalition has also stated that they would hold protests every Monday until the commissioners vacate office.

Mudavadi also claimed that he does not trust the Jubilee Government after they reneged on their promise to support his presidential bid in 2013.

President Kenyatta had announced that he would drop his bid in the top seat for Mudavadi, before making an about turn and expressing his interest in running for the presidency, claiming some “dark forces” had pressed him to drop out.

@benjaminwafula