Looming by-elections a litmus test for new IEBC , Wamalwa warns
The mini-polls are set to be hotly contested especially between President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance and the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) of his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua with whom he bitterly fell out
DAP-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa has described the forthcoming 23 by-elections as a litmus test for the independence of the newly-formed Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chaired by Erastus Ethekon.
Speaking after a meeting with county chairs and coordinators from across the 47 counties at the party headquarters, though many Kenyans had reservations about the process of their appointment and even challenged the same in court, they should be able to to do their patriotic duty independently and professionally and restore public trust and confidence in the IEBC.
“No doubt, these by elections will be a litmus test for the independence of the new team and we hope that though many Kenyans had reservations about the process of their appointment and even challenged the same in court, they should be able to to do their patriotic duty independently and professionally and restore public trust and confidence in this key democratic institution that is the guardian of our democracy,” he said.
The commission is slated to conduct mini-polls Baringo county and the constituencies of Malava, Banissa and Kasipul constituencies following the deaths of Senator William Cheptumo and MPs Kullow Hassan Aden, Malala Injendi and Charles Ong’ondo Were; Ugunja and Mbeere North constituencies following the elevation of Opiyo Wandayi and Geoffrey Ruto to Cabinet; and in Magarini constituency after Harrison Kombe was defeated in a by-election. There will also be by-elections in 16 wards across the country.
Wamalwa congratulated Ethekon and and his new team of six Commissioners on their appointment and the onerous task and heavy responsibilities placed on their shoulders to manage the General Election.
He reminded them of the words of the scripture, which say that “to whom much is given, much is expected.”
“To paraphrase Winston Churchill, we say to them that never in the history of our Great Nation has so much been entrusted to so few! We hope they shall serve diligently with utmost fidelity to our Nation’s values and abide by the rule of law,” he added.
The six commissioners are Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol and Fahima Araphat Abdallah.
The mini-polls are set to be hotly contested especially between President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance and the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) of his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua with whom he bitterly fell out.
It will also give the so-called United Opposition, which comprises Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Gachagua, Wamalwa and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i, among others, a chance to test its strength especially in Western Kenya ahead of the 2027 contest.
The IEBC will also get an opportunity to put its systems to test as it races against time with only two years left to the next General Election since that is the timeline the Johann Kriegler commission that audited the chaotic 2007 election gave if the elections is guaranteed to be credible, free and fair but delays in reconstituting IEBC put preparations in limbo.
