Musyoka and Mutula Jr on the campaign trail/CFM
Addressing the press after Mutula Kilonzo Junior was declared the county Senator-elect, Wiper Democratic Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka wondered how electronic voter identification and transmission equipment worked during the by-election unlike during the General Election in March 2013.
“Yesterday the electronic transmission mechanism seems to have worked very well and one wonders why it did not work during the General Election, that’s the main question,” Musyoka stated.
He observed that, “IEBC are in a hurry to redeem their image. Let them continue redeeming their image but as far as we are concerned it’s too little too late.”
On his part, Siaya County Senator James Orengo said that this demonstrates that the country can have a free and fair election if there are structural changes done within the election body.
“The IEBC has shown in a small way that there can be a free and fair election in the country but we continue to say unless there is a major structural change in the election body, to have any major election in this country, it will not be easy,” he said.
Earlier on, Coalition of Reforms and Democracy Member of Parliament Millie Odhiambo said Mutula Jr’s victory was inevitable.
Speaking to Capital FM News, the Mbita Member of Parliament said the electoral body had no option but to deliver on the Makueni poll saying the public was vigilant.
“The election body had no option but to deliver on this, everybody was watchful. They could not have done otherwise,” she said.
She said the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission needs to work on its challenges saying it still had a lot of teething problems.
“Delivering on this by-election does not mean that we have trust in the body now…it is an absolute failed body,” She stated.
She observed that, “This is the same body that declared a person winner in Mathare and later revoked it.”
She sent her congratulatory message to the Wiper candidate Mutula Jr joining other leaders including President Uhuru Kenyatta who sent the message on Friday night.
Odhiambo thanked the residents of Makueni County for voting in a CORD candidate, saying he will deliver on his late father promises.
Also in his congratulatory message, the Head of State challenged the 38 year-old to get down to business and diligently serve his constituents and the nation.
Mutula Jr secured what he termed as a ‘continental shift win’ to inherit the seat following the death of his father on April 27, this year.
Kenyatta says the win was an opportunity for the Makueni Senate heir to deliver his promises to his constituents and help them prosper.
He at the same time asked the mini-poll losers to accept the loss and work hand in hand with Mutula Jr in ensuring that services are delivered to Makueni County.
Kenyatta added that Kenyans and their leaders must learn how to move on to nation building after elections are concluded instead of mopping around.
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