Will the IEBC play along in ‘Operation Nyorosha Joho’?

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho (centre) with Mombasa Woman Representative Mishi Mboko and Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba during a press briefing on March 28, 2017. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The Kenya National Examinations Council has fished out the now-famous D- grade, the Kenya Revenue Authority has raided the bank accounts, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations is in no mood to leave any stone unturned while the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission is sniffing around the primary school.
  • However much Hassan Joho ends up getting battered by the President and his people, the Mombasa governor’s electoral fate ultimately lies in the hands of the electoral commission.
  • The IEBC also struck Moses Wetang’ula’s name off the voters’ register in 2015, causing him to temporarily lose his seat as Bungoma Senator.

The endgame of the “Operation Nyorosha Joho” plot is no doubt having the Mombasa governor locked out of the August 8 race in which the odds overwhelmingly favour him retaining his seat.

The initial stages of the game have gone quite smoothly, with some key State agencies only too willing to lend support.

The Kenya National Examinations Council has fished out the now-famous D- grade, the Kenya Revenue Authority has raided the bank accounts, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations is in no mood to leave any stone unturned while the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission is sniffing around the primary school.

When President Uhuru Kenyatta made that ‘tutanyorosha yeye’ remark in Mombasa last month, he really meant it!

ELECTORAL FATE

Yet, however much Hassan Joho ends up getting battered by the President and his people, the Mombasa governor’s electoral fate ultimately lies in the hands of the electoral commission.

Will the IEBC play along and block Mr Joho’s re-election bid in light of the stink the “Operation Nyorosha Joho” has set out to raise about his candidacy?

Yes, it can. A similar scheme stopped Kethi Kilonzo, a star lawyer in the presidential election petition against Mr Kenyatta’s victory at the Supreme Court, from succeeding her father as Makueni Senator upon his death in 2013.

The IEBC also struck Moses Wetang’ula’s name off the voters’ register in 2015, causing him to temporarily lose his seat as Bungoma Senator. But Mr Joho’s case, coming close to the General Election, will inevitably put the IEBC under much more scrutiny with respect to its even-handedness in enforcing electoral laws.

The governor’s latest troubles coincide with the escalation of their feuds with the President over control of Coast region’s politics.

TENSE INCIDENT

The duo’s feelings towards each other are pretty much summed up by the tense incident some time back in which Mr Joho told the President to his face to stop the habit of claiming credit for every little project in his county, including a footbridge.

The President then served up his revenge cold, deploying security forces to block the governor from attending a launch ceremony for ferry services.

It was at that ceremony that Mr Kenyatta also let rip, warning the governor against following him around as if he [Mr Kenyatta] were his wife and vowing to crush him.

But it is not only the highly personal nature of the feuds that will make it tricky for the IEBC to fall for the bait being dangled by the “Operation Nyorosha Joho” brigade.

The electoral commission lowered the integrity bar to allow Mr Kenyatta himself and Deputy President William Ruto to contest the 2013 election while facing crimes against humanity charges at the International Criminal Court.

What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

Writer is chief sub-editor, Business Daily. [email protected]. @otienootieno