Members of the National Super Alliance (NASA) have issued fresh demands to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and called for a report on the qualification and work history of officers recruited to oversee the August election.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) deputy party leader and Mombasa governor Hassan Joho, Homa Bay Woman Rep Gladys Wanga and Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang' on Sunday claimed IEBC had recruited police officers to act as returning officers in order to help Jubilee rig the election.
“We are getting reports that police officers are being recruited as poll officials to help the Jubilee government rig the election,” said Mr Joho.
Governor Joho’s accusations in Homa Bay came in the wake of criticism against the electoral agency by the Opposition over the audit of the voter register.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto have in recent weeks claimed that the opposition lacks a defined strategy to sell their agenda and are trying to create unnecessary tension in the country.
IEBC on its part has maintained that it will oversee the elections without any bias and has called on the opposition to stop their baseless allegations and instead preach peace lest the country goes into chaos as was experienced during the 2007 elections.
NASA seem to be unhappy with the handling of the whole electoral process, including the tender issued to Dubai-based Al Ghurair firm to print ballot papers and have voiced concern that the incumbent government plan to rig them out.
President Kenyatta has, however, assured the European Union Election Observation Mission that Kenya is ready for the polls and stated that all institutions involved in ensuring the election will be smooth have done their part.
“The elections will be held on August 8 as required by the constitution. The government has taken steps to ensure Kenyans exercise their democratic right and choose their leaders without interference,” he said, assuring the polls will be peaceful.
