Aukot said the party will team up with all progressive voices to ensure the constitutional gains made so far guaranteeing the independence of mind and action of institutions are not sacrificed at the altar of short-term personal interest and political posturing/MUTHONI NJUKI
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 15- Thirdway Party Alliance leader Ekuru Aukot has termed the petition filed by Nyeri Member of Parliament Ngunjiri Wambugu to oust Chief justice David Maraga as is ill-intentioned and aimed at intimidating and undermining the institutional independence of the Judiciary.
While addressing the media, Aukot said the party will team up with all progressive voices to ensure the constitutional gains made so far guaranteeing the independence of mind and action of institutions are not sacrificed at the altar of short-term personal interest and political posturing.
“On August 27th, 2010, over 67 per cent of Kenyans overwhelmingly enacted a new Constitution that guaranteed the institutionalization and independence of both the IEBC and the Judiciary. Any attack on the Judiciary, is therefore an attack on the will of the 67pc Kenyans who adopted the Judiciary as is currently constituted in our Constitution.”
He also called for the exit of officials within IEBC and who have been found to be culpable for the irregularities recorded in the August 8 General Election, “in order to restore trust, at least, before the repeat presidential election.”
“Public trust and confidence in the electoral process has been lost through the way IEBC has executed its mandate in the past.”
“We reiterate our position of 3rd September in which we called upon the following officials of IEBC to quit. Their continued stay in office continues to undermine the institution of the IEBC; The Chairman – Wafula Chebukati, The CEO – Ezra Chiloba, Director of Elections -Immaculate Kassait, Director Legal – Praxidice Tororei, Acting Director ICT – James Muhati,” stated Aukot.
The party leader also emphasised the need for the electoral agency to come out clearly and publicly to explain the specific measures it has taken to address, with finality, issues determined as irregular and illegal.
“These are the bare minimal reforms that must be seen to happen at IEBC to enable the public to have renewed confidence and trust in the possibility of a free, fair and credible election on the 17th of October 2017. Failure of which, it is foolhardy to have a “fresh election” as ordered and expects a different constitutionally sound outcome.”
In his conclusion Aukot, called for the inclusion of all candidates in the Fresh Presidential Race.
“It is our prayer, as a party that the Supreme Court will agree with our interpretation of the Supreme Court ruling of 1/09/2017 and hence allow us to contest because we were all affected by the illegalities and irregularities committed by IEBC in the election of 8th August 2017.”
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