The Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission Chairperson Wafula Chebukati on Thursday, July 7, dismissed claims that he has family ties with Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula.
Speaking during a media briefing on election preparedness, Chebukati denied the allegations and stated that the only connection between him and the Ford Kenya leader, was that they both hail from the Bukusu community in Bungoma County.
“The profiling of members of the commission is very unfortunate. For those who are making those remarks, he is a Bukusu like me, we were born in Bungoma and I think that is perhaps the reason they are profiling me,” remarked Chebukati.
The IEBC chair further challenged politicians to focus on selling their agenda to the electorate rather than profiling commissioners.
In addition, Chebukati played down allegations that his commission is conspiring with some politicians to manipulate the outcome of the August 9 polls.
This was in response to claims that a Kenyan politician and a member of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance had links to the Greek firm contracted to print the ballot papers.
“As the chair of commission I have never sat with an individual to discuss procurement and it is very unfortunate for politicians to stoop that low to malign the chair. I want to challenge politicians to focus on talking about their issues to the electorate,” he stated.
Chebukati’s response came days after Nation reported the alleged meeting between Wetangula and the contractor assigned to print ballot papers.
Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohammed during a political rally in Kiambu on Tuesday, July 5 claimed that the senator met Inform Lykos chief in Karen.
Wetangula, however, rubbished the allegations terming them as malicious. Deputy president William Ruto and his allies also came out guns blazing, rubbishing the reports.
The Chebukati-led commission is racing against time to guarantee Kenyans a free and fair election, having already cleared four presidential candidates.
The electoral body has already received the first batch of ballot papers as the clock ticks closer to August 9.
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