Opposition leader Raila Odinga has renewed calls for the removal of top bosses of the electoral agency.
Raila maintained all Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners must go home despite being cleared by a parliamentary committee. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission also cleared IEBC chairman Issack Hassan of corruption allegations in the Chickengate scandal.
The Opposition leader stated that his coalition will not participate in next year’s polls with the current commissioners, who he said cannot be trusted to conduct free and fair elections. Speaking during Orange Democratic Movement rallies in Teso South and Teso North constituencies, Raila said Hassan’s clearance will not change the Opposition’s earlier stand.
“We cannot go to next year’s elections with a referee who is biased. Before we compete with Jubilee in 2017, we must have in place a new electoral body. The current officials were part of the Chickengate scandal,” stressed Raila.
On his second-day tour of Busia County, Raila held meetings and public rallies in Adungosi, Angurai, Malaba and Simba Chai. His calls were echoed by MPs John Mbadi (Gwassi), TJ Kajwang (Ruaraka) and Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga, who said Kenyans were disillusioned with the current commissioners.
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The three legislators claimed the Jubilee administration was plotting to push forward the election calendar.
“The next general election must take place in August 2017 and must be spearheaded by a different team. We are aware of plans to push forward the election date and we will not allow that to happen,” stated Ms Wanga.
Mbadi, who is the ODM chairman, stated there will never be a level playing ground with Hassan in place. “We won’t allow him to preside over next year’s polls,” he reiterated.
Raila used the occasion to drum up support for his 2017 presidential bid, saying he was the best candidate to beat the Jubilee government.
“I am optimistic we shall win. We don’t want to lament again that our votes were stolen,’’ said Raila in Adungosi.
At the same time, the former prime minister urged the locals to acquire national identification cards to make his presidency possible.
“The best gift my supporters can give me is to have identification cards. Register as voters and turn out in large numbers to vote. Tesos gave me 95 per cent of votes in 2013 and my prayer is that we get all the seats we lost including Teso South and North,” noted Raila.
The two constituencies are represented in parliament by URP legislators Arthur Odera and Mary Emase.
Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong said the Orange party still enjoys massive support in the county.
“People in Busia are firmly in ODM and that was evident yesterday in Budalang’i. We want to ensure that in 2017 we clinch all the seats,” he added.
Raila accused Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i of failing to curb the rampant cases of school unrest in the country.
“There is a lot of rot in the education sector, an indication that there is a big problem in the Jubilee government. Students cannot continue to destroy school property each day,” said Raila.
Mr Kajwang (Ruaraka) also asked the residents to register as voters, stating over 3 million people countrywide were not registered.
“It is very unfortunate if you are here and you have not registered as a voter. We are here to discuss ODM matters. Issues of Ford Kenya and Wiper are of concern to our party leader Raila,” said Kajwang.
ODM deputy party leader Wycliffe Oparanya alleged that the Jubilee government was frustrating county governments by harassing ODM governors.
