With only six days to the elections, Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati has said that the commission will not be shaken by negative sentiments portrayed on different media platforms.
Chebukati made it clear that the commission is independent and is ready to deliver free and credible elections in the fast-approaching August 9 elections.
“We are independent and not shaken by negative sentiments portrayed on social media and other media platforms. We as the Commission are ready to deliver free and credible elections,” Chebukati said.
The IEBC boss also castigated those who think that the upcoming elections will not be peaceful, asking religious leaders to pray for the evil-minded politicians and citizens that want to see Kenya burn.
“There are those people who think there won’t be peaceful elections, kindly pray for them because the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will deliver,” Chebukati said.
Former nominated Senator and Maendeleo ya Wanawake chairperson Zipporah Kittony implored the electoral body chairman to deliver credible results that will reflect what Kenyans have spoken.
“All eyes are on Wafula Chebukati and his IEBC team and I implore him and the entire Commission to deliver credible results,” she said.
Kitttony further asked Kenyans to maintain peace and protect the vulnerable like women and disabled voters given Kenya is where they call home.
“We preach peace during this electioneering period given that some of us who represent the vulnerable don’t know where to go or run to because this is where we call home,” Kittony said.
United Nations Resident Coordinator to Kenya Stephen Jackson urged the Kenyan electorate to commit themselves to peace and stability ahead of the much-awaited general elections.
“We support the democratic process and look forward to strengthening our relations with Kenyans and I urge the electorate to commit themselves to peace and stability,” Jackson said.
Jackson further said Kenyans can enjoy the upcoming elections without chaos while confirming that the United Nations plays a vital role behind the scenes in ensuring a peaceful process.
“We can enjoy elections bila noma (no chaos). We have confidence in the institutions set up to ensure peaceful elections because We play a vital but deliberate role behind the scenes in ensuring a peaceful process,” Jackson further said.
On his part, Anglican Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit encouraged Kenyans to vote peacefully and go back home to await the final tally by IEBC.
“We urge and encourage Kenyans to vote and go back home to await the results peacefully because we have a duty to protect our motherland and not burn the gains that have been made by previous administrations. Elections come and go,” Ole Sapit said.
Ole Sapit also asked patriotic Kenyans to safeguard their motherland and by all means, uphold peace and tranquility given that peace begins with every Kenyan.
“We believe that Kenyans shall safeguard their motherland and by all means uphold peace and tranquility because peace begins with us. All voters should come together and accept the results regardless if their preferred candidate wins or not,” Sapit said.
The speakers made the remarks during a joint meeting by the women mediators network Kenya (WMN-K) and the mediation peace team (NMPT) at the Bomas of Kenya.