Khalwale vows to lead anti-IEBC demos in Kakamega

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has vowed to lead protests in the county today to push for the dissolution of the electoral agency.

Dr Khalwale said he had mobilised Cord supporters from the devolved unit to take part in the demonstrations.

“We want to tell the police that we are prepared to face them, even if they come armed with tear gas and truncheons. We will not relent in the fight to dissolve IEBC (Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission),” said the senator at a funeral in Malava Constituency on Saturday.

Last week, Cord leader Raila Odinga said he was disappointed that no demonstrations had been organised in Kakamega in support of the campaign to eject the commissioners.

Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe and Mahiakalo Ward Rep Cleophas Malala, however, accused Dr Khalwale of misleading the youth to engage in unlawful protests meant to spark chaos.

The MP described the planned protests as a waste of time, and asked residents to ignore them.

The western region police chief, Mr Moses Ombati, said officers will not interfere with the demos as long as the protesters do not engage in violence.

At the same time, a governor and two Cabinet Secretaries yesterday disagreed over the standoff between the government and the Opposition regarding the electoral commission.

LEAD TO VIOLENCE

While Devolution CS Mwangi Kiunjuri and his Sports counterpart Hassan Wario said street protests to push for the ouster of the commissioners are an improper approach and could lead to violence, Marsabit Governor Ukur Yattani said the agency does not have the capacity to conduct free and fair elections next year.

They spoke on Sunday at Loiyangalani in Marsabit County at the end of the Lake Turkana Cultural Festival.

Elsewhere, ODM Secretary-General Ababu Namwamba has appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to accept dialogue with the Opposition over the IEBC stalemate.

“We have stated clearly that the IEBC, under its current leadership, cannot handle the next polls. If the Jubilee government insists on retaining the commissioners, it will cause this country to burn,” he said.

He spoke at Bumala in Butula Sub-County during a harambee in aid of a church.
In Narok County, leaders have urged Cord politicians to call off today’s protests against the polls team.

They asked the Opposition to, instead, petition Parliament to address their grievances to end the impasse.

Governor Samuel ole Tunai, his deputy Everline Aruasa and Woman Rep Soipan Kudate said the officials of the IEBC can only be removed from office within the confines of the law.

Cord has accused the commission of corruption, bias and incompetence and wants the nine commissioners replaced before the 2017 polls.