With 73 days to the August 9 General Election, Azimio La Umoja presidential running mate, Martha Karua, has asked the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to detail how it plans to seal any loopholes that may affect the credibility of the election.
Speaking on Friday, May 27, the Narc Kenya party leader asked IEBC led by chairman Wafula Wanyonyi Chebukati, to leave no room for any possible manipulation of the August vote, arguing that the country was not ready for disputed polls.
Addressing members of the civil society, Karua recalled the 2017 General Election that was nullified by the Supreme Court after it found that the transmission of results was marred by irregularities.
Karua noted that it is prudent for IEBC to make public the technologies and tools it plans to deploy during the electoral process, adding that this will boost its credibility.
"As Azimio and civil society, we should write to the electoral commission demanding a brief on how to conduct election and tools they intend to use," she explained.
"They need to tell us how have they addressed issues that led to the nullification of the presidential election in 2017 because it would be wrong to go into another election with those issues not addressed. Some of them might be just procedures."
The Raila Odinga running mate further pleaded with electoral officials, law enforcement officers, and other stakeholders to ensure sanity during the electioneering period.
"You working for the electoral commission, you police officer, you civil servant, you PS, CS, it is you personally we are appealing to this electoral season to ensure that yo do the right thing for the country," Karua pleaded.
To encourage citizen participation in the electoral process, Karua urged Kenyans to take up active roles in protecting their country and democracy.
"We need to reawaken the fire in the bellies of our citizens and we will do it together," Karua remarked.
Her sentiments come just a day after Deputy President William Ruto opened up on the willingness to accept poll results. Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast held at Safari Park Hotel on Thursday, May 26, Ruto made it clear that his Kenya Kwanza coalition is ready to accept the outcome of the elections.
"I know there is a lot of anxiety as to what will happen in the election. I want to speak on behalf of my team and we will do anything possible within our power to make sure that the elections are peaceful," Ruto stated.
"I believe that whoever will be elected in this election will be the will of God and we will respect the will of God as expressed by Kenyans."
His sentiments come amid concerns by his camp over the involvement by some Cabinet Secretaries in campaigns. The Kenya Kwanza team specifically pointed out at ICT Cabinet Secretary, Joe Mucheru, who vowed to protect Raila's votes in August.
The team wants all government officials to stay away from campaigns and rallies.
