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2017 KENYA ELECTIONS

Chebukati asks DP Ruto to back off, offers up transparency in return

Chebukati, who the DP has accused of holding night meetings with members of the Opposition, has in turn asked those in the political class not to distract them from the task ahead through unwarranted attacks/DPPS

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 12 – The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chairman Wafula Chebukati on Tuesday assured Deputy President William Ruto that going forward, they will be the epitome of transparency in all their dealings with the parties to the October 17 presidential poll.

Chebukati, who the DP has accused of holding night meetings with members of the Opposition, has in turn asked those in the political class not to distract them from the task ahead through unwarranted attacks.

“We want to urge the political leaders please don’t attack us too much, give us space to do our job and on our part we commit that we shall ensure we’re fair in all respects. Even in our conduct outside there so that we’re not seen to be favouring any one side,” Chebukati said.

Apparently assuaged, the DP told the media following the meeting that as a ruling party, they are confident the IEBC will deliver a credible election and said his attacks on Chebukati’s credibility were not “personal.”

“We’ve told the Chairman that although we said he’s been holding night meeting with the other side, we’ve told him these are things we said out of concern for a free and fair election.

“It’s not a personal issue. We’re not trying to be personal here. We just want a credible transparent election and we expect everybody to live within those bounds.”

On Monday following a day-long retreat in Naivasha, Chebukati challenged Ruto to prove his claims that his independence is compromised; explaining that the Commission as a whole holds its door open to the political players in any election.

“If there are any incidents of night meeting with NASA principals, whoever is alleging that let them bring it out in the open and give venues of those meetings, times of those meetings.

“As Commissioners we have an open door policy. We meet Kenyans from all walks of life, NASA principals and their affiliates come to our offices, Jubilee come to our offices, all political party representatives come to see us and we even have meetings together outside the offices with various stakeholders so it’s not anything new.”

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