ODM threatens street protests in polls reform matter

Orange Democratic Movement has threatened to resume street protests to push for “genuine” talks on electoral reforms in the face of parallel inquiries by a departmental and select parliamentary committees.

The National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, chaired by Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga, plans to table a report on a petition by Mr Barasa Nyukuri against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners.

The legal committee report may duplicate the select committee’s work, especially if it recommends the compulsory exit of the commissioners.

This could render the select committee irrelevant. On Thursday, ODM National Executive Council deliberated on the matter and threatened to lead party supporters back to the streets if the legal committee's inquiry into the electoral commission is not stopped.

“We have noted that the work of the select committee could be sabotaged by the parallel justice and legal affairs committee of the National Assembly,” said Nominated Senator Agnes Zani.

Dr Zani, who was Thursday appointed the acting secretary-general of ODM, said that the party wants the Chepkonga-led committee to suspend its work.

She said Mr Chepkonga’s team was a Jubilee ploy to undermine structured talks started this week by the select committee.

Electoral commissioners have appeared before the Chepkonga team and indicated their willingness to quit, saying their work environment was totally poisoned.

Suna East MP Junet Mohammed said: “It is important that, in the interest of time and the nation, the Chepkonga team should stop working on this matter.”

He said it was worthless to have two committees working on one thing at the same time and called for honesty on the matter.

The select committee is expected to go on a retreat before starting to collect views and making inquiries on the electoral commission.