MP Mutuse blames Kalonzo for delay in naming IEBC chiefs

Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse has accused Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka of derailing the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The commission has been without commissioners since the exit of chairman Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye, whose tenures ended in January 2023.

Four others -- Jliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Justus Nyang’aya, and Irene Masit -- were removed from office following their dissent over the 2022 presidential election results. The process to recruit new commissioners has been facing hurdles with Mutuse claiming Kalonzo is one of the obstacles.

“We wanted IEBC like yesterday, we know the people derailing IEBC for their own political gains while heaping blame on government,” he said. 

Mutuse said the IEBC selection panel should be allowed to carry out its mandate to law new commissioners to have adequate time to prepare for the 2027 General Election and also carry out pending by-elections.

Mutuse, who tabled the Rigathi Gachagua ouster motion, claimed the country was headed in wrong direction due to then Deputy President’s divisive politics. 

“He was a tribal lord pushing for the removal of various people from government positions to have his allies replace them. Since then we have found peace in government and we are expecting to benefit more from the government,” said the lawmaker.

He alleged that former DP was against the construction of Emali-Ukia Road, which cuts through three constituencies, and that Gachagua pushed for the removal of Sh2 billion allocation for the road’s construction in favour of roads in Mt Kenya region. 

“We had funding from China for the construction of the Emali-Ukia Road to a tune of Sh2 billion, a road that the people of Makueni have been asking for since independence but Gachagua derailed the implementation process and pushed for the funds to be transferred to build Mau Mau roads,” he said.

He at the same time claimed Kalonzo was on a mission to wipe out his rivals in Ukambani politically and warned the Wiper leader of a takeover by a new leadership in region that would replace the old guard.