Teargas as Azimio MPs Hold Protest Outside IEBC Offices

A section of Azimio MPs march to IEBC offices at the Anniversary towers on Monday, September 26, 2022.
A section of Azimio MPs march to IEBC offices at the Anniversary towers on Monday, September 26, 2022.
File

Police were on Monday, September 26, forced to use teargas to disperse a section of Azimio la Umoja MPs and their supporters who were marching to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) headquarters. 

The MPs led by Ruaraka lawmaker TJ Kajwang were blocked by armed officers from accessing Anniversary Towers to protest the interdiction of the commission's deputy CEO Ruth Kulundu.

The legislators had accused IEBC of victimising Kulundu for not conforming to the will of her bosses after the August 9 presidential poll.

Police disperse Azimio supporters at IEBC offices on Monday, September 26, 2022.
Police disperse Azimio supporters at IEBC offices on Monday, September 26, 2022.
Citizen Digital

"The conduct of the two individuals, IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati and CEO Marjan Hussein portray an institution that has surrendered its independence and disregarded the rule of law," Kajwang stated. 

The security agencies had directed the lawmakers to send away their supporters before they got an audience with the electoral body. However, minutes later chaos ensued, with some of the MPs caught in the melee. 

At the time of publishing this article, the Azimio MPs were still barred from accessing Anniversary Towers, along the University Way, within the Nairobi Central Business District - CBD.

The irate leaders want the commission to reinstate Kulundu to her position- alleging that the commission's chair and the CEO disregarded the guidelines stipulated in the IEBC Act. 

"Despite clear provisions of how to handle disciplinary matters,the manner in which Kulundu has been treated by Chebukati and Marjan is not only a breach of set guidelines but is part of a well-orchestrated scheme to intimidate public officers who stand for the rule of law," Kajwang noted. 

The Ruaraka MP stated that Kulundu was interdicted for organising a plenary meeting- a fact which they disputed. 

"Kulundu has been accused of arranging an illegal plenary meeting and one wonders who were the attendees of the meeting. This concerned officer must be accorded a fair hearing which begins with responding to a show cause notice."

"In essence, the commission must sit in plenary and resolve that CEO issues show cause letter which may be followed by interdiction or suspension if further investigations are required. No such procedure was followed," Kajwang alleged. 

Kulundu was among casualties after a crackdown on senior IEBC staff alleged to have aided the operations of the four breakaway commissioners who disowned Chebukati's declaration of president William Ruto as the winner in the August 9 poll. 

An undated image of IEBC Deputy Commissioner Secretary Ruth Kulundu
An undated image of IEBC Deputy Commissioner Secretary Ruth Kulundu
File

 



 

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