During the Kericho by-election, Chiloba says there was no formal complaint raised against the exercise besides claims by KANU that the results were being transmitted fast/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 14 – The Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) now wants to form a code of conduct enforcement committee to sanction KANU, after the party officials failed to honour their summons on Monday.
IEBC Chief Executive Officer Ezra Chiloba says the committee will require KANU to substantiate its rigging claims in the just concluded Kericho senatorial by-election.
He says the commission will first make a formal invitation to the party officials, after which they shall be required to defend their claims.
“The unsubstantiated allegations and continuous attacks on the commission are meant to disparage the commission and discredit the institution that is mandated to run elections especially at this critical time when we are preparing for the next election,” he lamented.
During the Kericho by-election, Chiloba says there was no formal complaint raised against the exercise besides claims by KANU that the results were being transmitted fast.
Chiloba dismissed the allegations saying “efficiency cannot be punished” while expressing concerns over what he terms as a narrative to discredit the commission by politicians ahead of the 2017 General Elections.
“The narrative around the commission worries us a lot, but there is evidence out there that we are doing our best to ensure we are ready for the next election,” he said.
“We hope that other actors especially political leaders will see the sense of that effort and adjust their behaviour so that we can have a conducive environment.”
He said political parties are entitled to challenge any electoral outcome in court.
“What happened in Kericho, in as much KANU signed on the electoral code of conduct, it seems they were unhappy with the outcome,” he said.
“While the law gives them an opportunity of going to court after declaration of results, they don’t seem to be keen of doing that.”
He cautioned that IEBC “is not going to allow contestants or political parties to disparage IEBC or undermine its integrity, for the greater good of the country.”
Chiloba said all result outcomes of both by-elections forms were available and will soon be made public.
“The commission is in the process of compiling the report of the by-elections. Any party, candidate or member of the public who has any complaints regarding the conduct of both the Malindi and Kericho by-elections is free to report to the commission for appropriate action,” he said.
“However, the commission will not hesitate to invoke appropriate sanctions against individuals or parties that are clearly in breach of the Code of Conduct or the Elections Act.”
On Sunday, KANU officials insisted that the by-election was rigged and as such declared their candidate Paul Sang as the Kericho Senator.
KANU Secretary General Nick Salat claimed that their tallying shows Sang garnered 126,493 votes against Aaron Cheruiyot’s (JAP) 38,162 votes.
Salat accused JAP and IEBC of stealing the elections through the use of geometric generation, sequencing and prefilled Form 35A.
Sang on his part complained that the IEBC was hostile to his agents citing that some of his agents were locked out of some polling centres.
KANU National Chairman Gideon Moi said that the party will hold a thanks giving rally in Kericho next week to show appreciation for the support they electorate gave their candidate during last Monday’s mini-poll.
The IEBC declared Cheruiyot the winner of the mini-polls after garnering a whooping 109,358 votes. KANU’s Sang got 56,241 votes.
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