Probe theft of IEBC documents, Jubilee senators urge
Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki (right) confers with Senator Kipchumba Murkomen (left) during a press conference in Nairobi July 10, 2013. The Jubilee senators have called for full investigations into the theft of documents from the electoral commission. JENNIFER MUIRURI
Jubilee Coalition senators have called for full investigations into the theft of documents from the electoral commission.
The senators said the Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko should begin investigations into the “illegal handling of security documents at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission".
They said the beleaguered Kethi Kilonzo must explain where she got the document that the IEBC has said was stolen.
“There’s a crime in law called handling stolen property. Kethi must explain where she got that document from,” said Prof Kithure Kindiki, the Senate Majority Leader.
Addressing a news conference at the Media Centre in Nairobi’s Kenyatta International Conference Centre Wednesday, the senators said former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and other leaders in the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) ought to shed light on the theft of IEBC documents and the allegations on the alteration of the voters’ register.
Prof Kindiki said the remarks that TNA deleted Ms Kilonzo’s name from the voters’ roll were “malicious and alarmist and meant to divert attention from the serious criminal acts of fraud, forgery, and a myriad other electoral offences exposed during the IEBC tribunal hearing".
“Mr Kalonzo must provide evidence of the alleged criminality to the relevant government officials so that action may be taken,” said Prof Kindiki.
The senators asked Cord to “restrain itself” from making provocative statements.
Staring at jail
Billow Kerrow (Mandera), Beth Mugo (nominated), Kimani Wamatangi (Kiambu), Emma Mbura (nominated), Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet) and Beatrice Elachi (nominated) said Cord had erred, and ought to apologise.
"(Kalonzo) has to apologise to Kethi, her family, Makueni voters, the women of Kenya and to TNA and Jubilee coalition for destroying Kethi’s reputation, career, and political future,” said Prof Kindiki, also Tharaka Nithi Senator.
"Kethi was a star in law and politics, she is now staring at jail. We don’t know yet, because investigations are not done, but someone will have to be jailed,” the Majority Leader siad.
They also demanded an apology and “unequivocal withdrawal” of the claim by the former VP that TNA deleted Ms Kilonzo’s name from the voters’ register.
“It is shocking to see a former Vice President stoop so low. The least he can do is to apologise for misleading a young woman with a promising future. He must stop dragging Jubilee in the mud which they have created. He owes an apology to the women of Kenya,” said Ms Mugo.
Mr Murkomen accused the top leadership of Cord of “intimidating and coercing” Ms Kilonzo to vie for the Makueni seat, with the intention of serving their political interests.
“They owe an explanation as to how they forced and dragged a young lady who was happy in her legal practice into politics and to be part of this fraud,” said Mr Murkomen.
Mr Wamatangi called the Cord leaders “political manipulators”.
“We sympathise with Kethi,” said Mr Wamatangi.
