Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission could be the next battleground for ODM and OKA after some ODM politicians said they want chair Wafula Chebukati to exit before the 2022 general elections.
However, the call has been condemned by OKA affiliates Ford Kenya, ANC, Wiper and Kanu.
ODM chairman and National Assembly Minority Leader John Mbadi, Homa Bay Woman Rep Gladys Wanga, Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi and Kisumu Senator Fred Outa made the calls last week.
“I am afraid of going to an election with Chebukati at the helm of IEBC. We will consult as parliamentarians and find the best way forward for Kenya,” Wanga said.
Speaking during a retreat in Naivasha on Tuesday, Oka fired back and accused ODM of interfering with the independence of the electoral agency.
“We support the independence of the electoral commission, and we cannot afford to destabilise it a year to the election,” Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka said.
On Thursday, ANC reiterated that Oka will not sit back and watch as ODM interferes with the independence of IEBC.
Deputy party leader Ayub Savula said ODM should respect the independence of constitutional commissions and their leadership.
“This will be our next battlefield with ODM. We will battle with ODM up to the bitter end. There is no way they will remove Chebukati from office,” Savula told the Star.
He said the commission that was set up to investigate post-election violence recommended that the IEBC chair should not be removed a year to elections.
“ODM should keep off Chebukati for free and fair elections. The chair of the commission has to be in office two to three years before the polls,” he said.
ANC spokesperson Nathaniel Mong’are said it would be a mistake to remove Chebukati at this point.
“We have less than a year to elections. It would be in bad faith to destabilise IEBC. That is the stand of ANC,” he said.
Mong’are said there are sufficient laws to address the concerns ODM may be having.
In its statement on Tuesday, Oka said it supports the independence of the electoral commission.
Onyoka said as the body mandated to oversee the elections, Kenyans are looking forward to a commission that will deliver free, fair, credible, and verifiable elections.
“As we approach the 2022 general election, we do so with a full understanding of the volatility of our political landscape as a country,” he said.
“Many a time, we have teetered on the path of electoral violence instigated by leaders who’ve made it their personal endeavours to incite people against each other for political expediency.”
He urged Kenyans to shun such leaders and jealously guard our country against brinkmanship and constant threats of senseless violence.
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