Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition leaders yesterday held a short-lived protest outside the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) offices at Anniversary Towers demanding the reinstatement of IEBC Deputy Chief Executive Officer Ruth Kulundu. Police officers were forced to lob tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd.
The IEBC last month interdicted Deputy Chief Executive Officer for a litany of allegations including gross misconduct, insubordination and participation in illegal activities, contrary to her terms of service. Amid the body’s decision to oust the IEBC Deputy CEO, the Azimio legislators are now accusing IEBC Chief Executive Officer Marjan Hussein and IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati of abandoning the independence of the electoral body and resorting to pleasing the executive.
“It is part of a well-orchestrated scheme to intimidate public officers who stand by the rule of law,” Kajwang said. The legislators have given the two IEBC leaders an ultimatum to reinstate Kulundu within twenty-four hours failure to which they will take stern action
“While their actions remain heroic in the eyes of beneficiaries, the Azimio leadership puts the duo on notice for eroding the gains we have made in transforming the electoral system in Kenya,” Ruaraka MP TJ Kajwang said. The Azimio leaders termed the move as well orchestrated and illegal.
“It is part of a well-orchestrated scheme to intimidate public officers who stand by the rule of law,” Kajwang said. The legislators have given the two IEBC leaders an ultimatum to reinstate Kulundu within twenty-four hours failure to which they will take stern action.
‘’That IEBC should immediately reinstate Ruth Kulundu to her rightful position of deputy CEO within the next 24 hours, failure to which we shall take stern action against Wafula Chebukati and Hussein Marjan.” The leaders and their supporters did not manage to get an audience with either of the commissioners as they were met with locked doors accusing them of hiding from them.
