The IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati on Wednesday outlined three conditions that must be met for him to remain as the Commission's boss.
Speaking at the Bomas of Kenya, Mr Chebukati explained that with the heightened political tension in the country, President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga must meet and dialogue before the repeat election.
"If candidates on all sides put their personal interests aside, first it will affect the quality of decisions we make.
"Political and economic problems can’t be fixed through elections or legal mechanisms alone. As the referee of this contest, I am extending an open invitation to the candidates to a meeting that I will preside over so they can talk,” he stated.
[caption caption="File image of President Uhuru Kenyatta, DP William Ruto and Opposition Leaders"]
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The IEBC Chair further noted that for him to remain as the Commission's boss, the Secretariat staff adversely mentioned in electoral irregularities should step aside and pave way for the project team to conduct the repeat poll.
"I've made several attempts to make critical changes but all my motions have been defeated by a majority of the Commissioners.
"Under such conditions, it is difficult to guarantee a free, fair and credible election without changes in key secretariat staff. I, therefore, ask officials who have been adversely mentioned to step aside to enable the project team to function without intereference," Chebukati noted.
Lastly, Chebukati explained that he will not remain at the helm of the poll agency if the commission is not "left to operate independently".
The Chair also admitted that his team was not in a position to deliver a credible election set for next week citing interference by political parties.
"My fellow Kenyans, we are faced with a dilemma as a country. One between the status of operational preparedness and the political environment for credible elections.
"From an operational angle, we are prepared. While I want to confirm to you our full technical preparedness for this election, I want to state categorically that I shall not go down in history as a National Returning Officer who plunged the country into a further crisis than I found it," he declared.
[caption caption="File image of Wafula Chebukati and other IEBC officials"]
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