Kenya Kwanza answers Azimio on reinstatement of Cherera 4, opening of servers

Majority Leader in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung'wah addressed journalists on behalf of Kenya Kwanza at State House, Nairobi on April 11, 2023. [File, Standard]

The Kenya Kwanza Alliance on Tuesday, April 11 told off the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition on calls for the reinstatement of four IEBC commissioners who resigned after President William Ruto's administration assumed office in September 2022.

The leading alliance also rubbished allegations by Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya that their presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, won the August 9, 2022 race for State House.

Odinga, who has maintained that he got 8.1 million votes against Ruto's 5.9 million, has demanded that Azimio be allowed access to IEBC's electronic voter transmission data to prove who between him and Ruto got more votes than the other. Azimio calls it a request to "open the servers".

While declaring Ruto the winner of the presidential election, IEBC said on August 15, 2022 that the UDA leader got 7.18 million votes against Odinga's 6.95 million votes.

The Kenya Kwanza Alliance held its Parliamentary Group meeting at State House, Nairobi on Tuesday, April 11, and addressed some of the demands made by Azimio.

Speaking on behalf of the alliance, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah said there is no law that allows the reinstatement of IEBC commissioners who resigned willingly from office.

On Azimio's demand for the reinstatement of commissioners Juliana Cherera, Justus Nyang'aya, Francis Wanderi and Irene Masit, who was removed from office via tribunal proceedings, Kenya Kwanza said that won't be possible.

The leading alliance also asked Azimio to move to the Supreme Court to seek a review of the August 2022 presidential petition after they (Azimio) insisted that they won the election, and that access to IEBC servers would offer the much needed closure.

Ichung'wah said the Kenya Kwanza government does not have the powers to grant Azimio access to IEBC servers, and that it is only the Supreme Court of Kenya that can give that permission.

The PG meeting was held to form a seven-member team that will take part in bipartisan talks with Azimio la Umoja.

The seven Kenya Kwanza lawmakers in the bipartisan team are Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei, Nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri, Tharaka MP George Murugara, Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, Eldas MP Adan Keynan and Taita Taveta Woman Representative Lydia Haika.

The legislators, who were fronted by Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya last Thursday, April 6, are Narok Senator Ledama Olekina, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua, Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo, Pokot South MP David Pkosing, Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo and Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi.

The bipartisan team has been formed to consider changes to the IEBC selection panel, that would bring about a semblance of fairness in forming the team that picks the next IEBC commissioners.