Maendeleo Chap Chap party leader Alfred Mutua addresses his supporters in Nanyuki on Saturday. [Courtesy]
Maendeleo Chap Chap party leader Alfred Mutua has urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to kick-start the process of fully constituting the country’s electoral body to avoid last-minute rush which could cast doubts in the integrity of the 2022 General Election.
Mutua warned that absence of a legally and properly constituted Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), at least 18 months to the polls could plunge the country into electoral crisis.
Governor Mutua, who has declared he will vie for the country’s top seat in 2022, said the appointment of IEBC commissioners early enough will pave way for a well-organised team to run what is believed will be Kenya’s biggest election in history.
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“Kenyan elections have become a matter of life and death because we make structural mistakes such as delays in funding and appointing the electoral commissioners in good time. Let us avoid the last-minute rush,” Mutua said in Nanyuki town while popularising his presidential bid.
Currently, only three IEBC commissioners are in office out of the mandatory nine required by the Constitution. The law requires applicants for the positions to be vetted by Parliament.
Mutua said a well-constituted IEBC is critical giving credence to the country’s electoral process, which has in the past been marred with mistrust and litigations.
“The Kriggler report recommended the establishment of a fool-proof electoral system where Kenyans feel they are participating in an election that is free, fair and measurable for all. I am humbly requesting the President to move swiftly and initiate the required process,” said Mutua.
The governor said by having all the required nine commissioners of IEBC in office well ahead of August 2022, planning and procurement of election materials will be carried out efficiently.
“IEBC should also be adequately funded in order to efficiently run its mandate. It is suicidal to wait for the last-minute rush that casts doubts in the minds of Kenyans about the integrity of the elections,” he said.
