By Peter Opiyo
NAIROBI, KENYA: Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga wound up his campaign secretariat with a stinging attack on the electoral body over his loss in the March 4 elections.
At a luncheon hosted by Raila at Carnivore restaurant, the PM claimed the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) CORD a win, saying it should not be allowed to conduct the next polls as it is currently constituted.
“IEBC as currently constituted should not be allowed to conduct the next elections. We want an institution that can serve the country; let’s have an institution that can stand the test of time,” said Raila.
To remove a commissioner (s) from the electoral body, one has to first present a petition to the National Assembly.
Gross misconduct
If the House approves the petition, the President appoints a tribunal to probe the allegations and make recommendations.
The President shall then act within 30 days based on the recommendations.
The circumstances under which one can originate a petition border on serious violation of the Constitution or any other law, gross misconduct, physical or mental incapacity to execute office duties, incompetence or bankruptcy.
It is these grounds that the tribunal investigates before making recommendations to the President.
Raila, who thanked members of the secretariat for making sacrifices during the campaigns, claimed even if re-run poll was conducted,Jubilee Coalition would have won, saying the outcome had been pre-determined. “IEBC is the problem, it is not the people,” said Raila.
Raila, who was in an exuberant mood, however, said the country must move forward.“I grew up in a different Kenya, the country has transformed,” said the former PM.
His statement comes after the Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko asked the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to probe IEBC on procurement irregularities of electronic equipment.
In its ruling on the presidential poll petition, the Supreme Court concluded it was likely the procurement of electronic system was marred by competing interests.
Raila contested the outcome of the presidential results citing irregularities in the electoral process, but the Supreme upheld Uhuru’s win.
The PM also said powerful forces were attempting to frustrate devolution and urged CORD MPs to be vigilant.
He cited appointment of County Commissioners as one of the ways through which the ‘forces’ were impeding roll out of devolved units.
Abolish positions
Consequently, he called for the repeal of the National Government Coordination Act to abolish the positions of the County Commissioners.
The Act created the position of the commissioners to oversee the central government’s operations at the counties.
“There are powerful forces against devolution. They say they are for devolution because it is in the Constitution, but in the real sense they are not for it,” said Raila.
The luncheon brought together his campaign team and was also attended by CORD Minority Leader in the Senate and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula.
Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, who was Raila’s running mate, missed the event as he was said to be attending a funeral.Wetang’ula said CORD legislators should push for enough budgetary allocation for issuance of national identity cards in marginalised areas.
Demeam stature
He urged CORD MPs to resist any attempts by the Jubilee Coalition to woo them to their side.
They have been reports that Jubilee Coalition has been persuading some CORD members to cross over.
Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba urged Raila not to bow to pressure to join the National Assembly as a leader of CORD, saying such a move would demean his stature.
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