Labour Party urges IEBC to root out anomalies
Labour Party of Kenya officials have a discussion at Sentrim Elementaita Lodge in Nakuru on February 4, 2017. They said they will announce the presidential contester they would like to support soon. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Namwamba stated that the party is independent and any decision reached will be on its own terms.
- Mr Makali advised the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to sort out any discrepancy that may tamper with the credibility of the August 8 polls.
Labour Party of Kenya has recommended that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) forms a consultative forum to supervise the elections to make sure all goes well.
Speaking at the party's retreat at Sentrim Elementaita Lodge in Nakuru County, Mr Makali said that is one of the ways the agency can promote credibility of the results.
"As a first step in this direction, we urge IEBC to set up an inter-party consultative forum to invigilate the exercise to give confidence to the country," Mr Makali said.
Secretary-General David Makali also told the polls agency to sort out any discrepancy that may tamper with the credibility of the August 8 polls.
"We urge IEBC to move fast to address the emerging issues. Numerous anomalies have been exposed in the ongoing voter registration that must be addressed urgently to assure the country and candidates that the elections will be free, fair and credible."
The elections agency has come under fire over significant problems such as sharing of ID numbers by voters and the distribution of voter registration kits.
However, Mr Wafula Chebukati, the chairman, has maintained that it will weed out anything that may pose a threat to the credibility of the elections.
On which presidential candidate they will back in the August 8 elections, the party's leader Ababu Namwamba said they are still engaging other political players.
Mr Namwamba, also the Budalang'i MP, said comprehensive talks will be held by the party's senior officials before any decision is reached.
The matter was listed among the agenda to be discussed during the three-day retreat at the lodge.
"What I can tell you for sure is that we are having exciting conversations about the issue and [we have] commenced health debates. We will soon name the person we support," he said.
Mr Namwamba stated that the party is independent and any decision reached will be on its own terms.
"We are not indebted to any political party and we are not paying any debt…we are absolutely under no pressure to hasten the naming process," he added.
Similarly, Secretary-General David Makali said deliberations on the elections matter will be relayed in due time.
"A decision on the party’s position will be communicated in the near future," he said.
