LSK condemns tear-gassing of Cord leaders, demands IEBC chair step aside

The Law Society of Kenya has demanded the electoral commission boss Ahmed Issack Hassan steps down pending “Chickengate” scam investigation and condemned police for teargasing cord protesters on Monday.

In a press statement sent to Nation, LSK said the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has credibility issues with complaints from all sections of Kenyan society.

The LSK chair Issak Okero said the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission’s investigation of the IEBC chair should be dealt with urgently since the General Election is only 16 months away, adding that the situation threatens democracy.

“The IEBC chairman must voluntarily step down as corruption investigations remain pending. Cabinet secretaries before him have done so. There should be no different standard applied,” read the LSK statement.

Mr Hassan was on March 8 this year questioned on the 'Chickengate' scandal as the anti-graft commission wound up investigations on the first case in the saga.

Mr Hassan maintained his innocence, claiming that he is not implicated in the British authorities report and that his appearance was largely to share what he knew in his capacity as the chairperson.

“I have assured the investigators that I was not involved at all in this matter of Chickengate and that I did not ask for or receive any bribe from anybody,” the IEBC chair said.

Furthermore, the body asked for the reconstitution of the IEBC but within the confines of the law.

POLICE ACTION CONDEMNED

In addition, Mr Okero condemned police for teargasing Cord protestors on Monday who had gone to protest at the IEBC Anniversary Towers headquarters.

“Teargas and riot police placed in anticipation of citizens' protests does not set the stage for the exercise of Article 37 rights. The use of teargas against peaceful unarmed protestors is reprehensible, provocative and represents intolerance by the government that is not a reflection of the direction we want our country to take,” said Mr Okero.

Cord leaders including Mr Raila Odinga, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula and their supporters were Monday roughed up by police as they tried to break into IEBC offices.

Mr Odinga had planned to kick off what Cord had said would be an indefinite occupation of the commission offices to force the chairman and eight other commissioners out of office.

The Opposition has said it has no confidence that the commission will deliver a free and fair election next year.

Religious bodies have also joined the clarion call for change at the IEBC with the Isiolo National Council of Churches of Kenya chairman Stephen Kalunyu and interfaith based organisations chairman Ahmed Set calling for dialogue between the government and the Opposition to end the debate on the reconstitution of the electoral agency.

IEBC CALLS FOR DIALOGUE

The IEBC chief executive officer Ezra Chiloba on Monday told the Nation from New York that the agency was ready to talk with cord leaders provided they avoid unorthodox approaches and agree to an engagement conducted in a structured manner.