UDA demands Mucheru’s resignation for campaigning for Raila
United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party has written a protest letter to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) demanding the resignation of ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru.
According to the party, the CS has taken advantage of his role and position in government with the intention to influence the outcome of the August 2022 general election.
UDA Secretary General Veronica Maina cited Mucheru’s recent remarks that they “would ensure the elections are free and fair by making sure systems work”.
“Of concern to us is the critical role the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology plays in supervising and overseeing the Communication Authority of Kenya,” read the letter in part.
UDA now wants the commission to explain the role of Mucheru in the elections.
Communications Authority of Kenya, provides the technological framework for IEBC to conduct digital registration, digital tallying and relaying of results electronically.
On Wednesday, May 4, the CS while speaking in Nyeri County where Raila Odinga met with leaders from the Mount Kenya region said: “We are working closely with Baba to ensure that this is the case and we have been looking and seeing the information we are on the right track…Baba, we are together and we are following you, you have given us the assignment, we are doing all that, we are not sleeping.”
The Secretary General further questioned the legal framework that mandates a presidential candidate to assign, direct, supervise and receive reports on election manipulation from Cabinet Secretaries.
“In this regard, assuming even that Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology had a role to play in facilitating the elections, his recent remarks compromise his neutrality and the office he holds,” stated Maina.
The party demanded that Mucheru resigns so that he can concentrate on campaigning for Odinga.
