Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK) now wants Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati to cancel October 26 presidential election and set another date agreed upon by both political parties.
Through its Secretary General Stephen Mutoro, the lobby group indicated that the electoral commission should focus on uniting the country rather than conducting an election that will divide it.
The independent body noted that the withdrawal of NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga and the Opposition's threats that elections will not be held in its perceived strongholds should prompt the IEBC boss to postpone elections.
He also faulted Chebukati for remaining tight-lipped regarding the implications of the election amendment laws passed by the Jubilee MPs.
"IEBC has not indicated if regulations to implement the new laws will be in place by October 26 and this is something to worry about,” he stated.
[caption caption="IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati, Commissioner Roselyn Akombe and CEO Ezra Chiloba"]
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The COFEK boss also noted that the anti-IEBC protests and killings in the Nyanza region would worsen if the elections are conducted next week as scheduled.
"The timing is just not right. IEBC should delay the elections and settle on an agreement between Uhuru and Raila before it subjects Kenyans to other elections,” advised Mutoro.
"Such political processes and decisions directly affect consumers, we cannot keep quiet any longer,” he stated, adding the political tension could plunge the country into a political crisis.
[caption caption="Cofek Secretary General Stephen Mutoro"]
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He advised Chebukati to go back to the Supreme Court to request the postponement of the election and install Kenyatta as a caretaker President to ensure there is no vacuum in the Presidency.
Mr Mutoro also called on the two leaders to engage in talks which should not be necessarily on power-sharing but an agreement on the irreducible minimums that should be met by the electoral body.
