Leave or protests resume, Raila tells polls team

Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga on Thursday said the opposition will not allow electoral commission boss Issack Hassan to preside over the next year’s elections, even though he was cleared over the 'Chicken gate' scandal.

Mr Odinga will also not petition the Supreme Court in the 2017 elections, instead he will protect his votes at all costs to ensure he wins the polls.

In the last elections, he petitioned the Supreme Court after losing to President Uhuru Kenyatta. He lost the petition.

He also said he had endorsed the re-election of Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong. Funyula MP Paul Otuoma, who is one of the rebel members, is eyeing the seat.

The former premier who pitched tent in Teso, Busia County, called for the immediate reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

He said the commission boss was a partisan referee. “I am seeing the government trying all kinds of tricks on the IEBC stalemate. We will not allow Hassan, who is not a fair referee, to preside over the next General Election whether he likes it or not,” he said.

“We want a level playground for all candidates and not a tainted commission.”

On Monday, Mr Odinga said he will renew countrywide protests unless the commission quits in 30-days.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption commission on Tuesday cleared Mr Hassan of charges in the Sh46 million chicken gate scandal.

In the scandal, former Interim Independent Electoral Commission bosses were allegedly involved in bribery in the purchase of electoral materials from a British firm whose officials have since been jailed for the offence.

Mr Odinga took his campaign to Teso North and South constituencies, which are Jubilee zones, and rooted for a six-piece voting system in Nyanza and Western region.

The two seats are represented by Deputy President William Ruto’s URP MPs. Mr Odinga said party members defected to URP and Ford Kenya due to botched primaries.

The ODM team accused Jubilee of failing to initiate development in the area even after it voted in MPs Mary Emase (Teso South) and Arthur Odera (Teso North).

FAIR PRIMARIES

The Cord leader addressed rallies in Chakol-Adungosi, Ang’orai, Malaba and Sambachai.

He will conclude his five-day tour of the region in Kakamega today, where he is expected to address rallies.

Mr Odinga is fighting to retain his support in the region following a rebellion led by Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba who resigned as ODM secretary-general.

Dr Otuoma also quit as national vice-chairman while Sirisia MP John Waluke resigned as Bungoma ODM chairman.

Amani National Congress Musalia Mudavadi leader is pushing for the region to unite and present its own candidate in 2017.

On Thursday, Nairobi ODM Chairman George Aladwa stirred up matters in Cord when he declared the coalition will collapse if Mr Odinga will not be its presidential candidate.

He said Cord matters should be left to the ODM leader to handle and that they will not allow anyone else to be the coalition’s flag bearer in the next elections.

“Hiyo mambo ya Cord sisi watu wa ODM hatujui (We ODM members are not concerned about Cord issues). Go and sit in a boardroom and agree but all we know is that Raila will be the Cord flag bearer, if its someone else, ODM will not accept,” he said.

Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong threatened to mobilise his constituents to demonstrate over the government’s failure to construct the Busia-Adungosi-Malaba Road.

ODM national Chairman John Mbadi, Woman Rep Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) and Florence Mutua (Busia) were present. Mr Namwamba, Dr Otuoma and Busia Senator Amos Wako skipped the rallies.

Mr Mbadi promised that party primaries will be above board.

Additional reporting by Benson Amadala