Kalonzo Tells President Ruto Not To Pre-rig 2027 Elections
Written by RadioVuna on December 6, 2022
Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has warned President William Ruto against allegedly plotting to rig the 2027 General Election through what he termed as interfering with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Speaking in Kyome-Thaana ward in Kitui on Monday, Kalonzo said the attempt by the ruling party to kick out the ‘Cherera four’ IEBC commissioners was wrongly timed and only meant to frustrate the functions of the electoral body.
The four are; IEBC Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera, Commissioners Irene Masit, Justus Nyang’aya, and Francis Wanderi, who have since been suspended by President Ruto and a tribunal formed to consider a petition seeking their removal from office. Cherera and Nyang’aya have since however tendered their resignations.
The Wiper boss further affirmed that the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party brigade will still hold the planned rally at Kamukunji grounds on Wednesday, adding that they will not allow the President to misuse his powers.
Kalonzo said that holding peaceful demonstrations is a right enshrined in the Constitution and Kenyans need no permission from any authority to exercise their constitutional rights.
“We will still go to Kamukunji on Wednesday, and we mean well for this country. We are basically saying please do not pre-rig the 2027 General Election. Justice must be seen and this is basic, justice must not only be done but it must manifestly be seen to be done in the case of Cherera and her fellow commissioners,” he said.
Kalonzo’s remarks come after Azimio leader Raila Odinga recently hit out at President Ruto for suspending the ‘Cherera four’ IEBC commissioners with a long–term goal of allegedly controlling the commission to his advantage in the 2027 polls.
Mr. Odinga also claimed that President Ruto’s administration seeks to have the sole decision of appointing their preferred commissioners in a bid to influence the next poll outcome.
“We have said it before and we will say it again, the tribulations of the commissioners are not about the 2022 elections. This is about the 2027 elections. Mr Ruto wants to rig 2027 elections in 2022,” he said during a press address last week.
“The four are being forced out because William Ruto and the UDA administration want a clean slate at the IEBC and fill it with his stooges and henchmen for the 2027 elections.”
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