‘Kenyans in Diaspora’ want IEBC commissioners to resign

By Maureen Murimi, Citizen Digital

26 May 2016

The Kenya Diaspora Alliance (KDA) has called upon the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Ahmed Issack Hassan and other commissioners and staff named in the chickengate scandal to step aside and allow for investigations to restore confidence and integrity of the electoral body.

In a statement to newsrooms, KDA’s Global Chairman Dr Shem Ochuodho said the KDA UK Chapter is studying the London rulings and plans to file the same in Kenyan courts for necessary further legal action.

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The alliance also asked the police to stop using brute and excessive force on demonstrators, urging organizers and demonstrators too to maintain civility, refrain from provoking the police and threatening life or property as they demonstrate.

“Kenyans have witnessed the violence, loss of lives and destruction of property over the last three Mondays with great dismay and despair about the future of our country. KDA registers its deep frustration and disappointment with current political events ahead of the 2017 General Elections, and call for reason over emotion by all political groupings, Kenyan leadership, pertinent constitutional institutions, religious groups, civil society and all Kenyans in general.”

“We call for cross-board consensus in seeking a legal, civilized, fair and acceptable solution to the current stalemate. We especially call upon the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and its secretariat to soul search and put the greater good of the country before self,” read the statement in part.

KDA seemed to blame the IEBC for the current upheaval.

“IEBC is the one in the eye of the storm and the single trigger of the current violence. IEBC’s mishandling of the BVR kits that led to bungled 2013 elections and disputed results, allegations of dizzying levels of corruption against the commissioners, and their blatant disregard for constitutional and legal electoral provisions to favour preferred candidates and political parties have collectively rendered the continued presence of some of the commissioners in office anachronistic.”

KDA expressed frustration over the lack of voter registration in the Diaspora.

“The Constitution provides that any Kenyan above the age of 18 years, including those in the diaspora, may register to vote. Kenyan courts of competent jurisdiction have ordered the IEBC to register Kenyans in the diaspora to enable them to participate in general and presidential elections, but the IEBC has ignored the constitutional provisions on the voting rights of diaspora Kenyans and defied court orders on the same,” read the statement.

The alliance urged the government to thoroughly investigate various allegations of impropriety against individual commissioners.

“There are constitutional provisions regarding how the IEBC can be disbanded. However, constitutional and legal provisions do not preclude honourable actions of principle, and time comes when honour must transcend constitutional and legal provisions. It is also critical that the government too thoroughly, swiftly and fairly investigate various allegations of impropriety against adversely mentioned individual commissioners so that those found culpable can face the full force of law to send out a stern warning that Kenyans can no longer tolerate unethical conduct of government officers or their abuse of office.”