IEBC to blame for BVR kits delay, says Wetangula
From left: Trade Minister Moses Wetangula, IEBC chairman Ahmed Issack Hassan and Chief Justice Willy Mutunga at the official opening of the National Conference on Peaceful Elections on August 27, 2012 at Bomas of Kenya, Nairobi. Photo/SALATON NJAU
What you need to know:
- Wetangula says Kenyans have now been kept guessing as to when the voter registration exercise will kickoff in readiness for the General Election
- Wetangula also says IEBC should address cases of candidates who are defying the electoral code of conduct by spearheading hate speech
Trade Minister Moses Wetangula over the weekend accused the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for delays in the delivery of Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits. Read (Deal is signed, but voter kits will still be late)
Wetangula said Kenyans have now been kept guessing as to when the voter registration exercise will kickoff in readiness for the General Election.
“The conduct of IEBC over the BVR kits is suspicious. They have kept on assuring Kenyans of the supply of the equipments when nothing is happening,” he said at Kapkoi in Kwanza Constituency.
Mr Wetangula also said IEBC should address cases of candidates who are defying the electoral code of conduct by spearheading hate speech and tribalism in their campaigns.
“The IEBC should make use of the powers accorded to it to tackle cases of hate speech and tribalism which are being spearheaded by some aspirants,” he said.
Wetangula also said IEBC should watch-out on vote rigging, which marred the 2007 General Election.
“The conduct of IEBC in recent by-elections clearly shows that the body has to do much to tackle electoral misconducts and restore trust,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Ford Kenya leader said his party is seeking pre-election pacts with like-minded parties in readiness for the elections but insisted that the party is not keen on playing subordinate in such alliances.
“We are open to consultations because no single party will make it at the elections, but it does not mean that we are automatically going to play second fiddle in such an arrangement,” he said.
Recently, Forestry Minister Noah Wekesa said Ford Kenya will forge an alliance with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Mr Wetangula also said presidential aspirants from western Kenya are slated to carry on talks seeking to find a common candidate for the region.
“We have been invited by ACK Bishop Eliud Wabukala and COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli to continue with our negotiations over the presidency,” said Mr Wetangula.
