Africa-Press – Kenya. President William Ruto has told Azimio leader Raila Odinga that the law on the constitution of IEBC will not be bent to suit his demands. Defending his actions, Ruto said the Constitution was clear on the process to be used in the formation of the electoral commission which he said has fully adhered to it.
“Mimi kazi nilifanya ni kazi ya katiba na sheria kuhakikisha ya kwamba nagazzete hiyo jopo ambayo itatafuta wale watakaosimamia IEBC ya siku za usoni,” said Ruto.
(I did what I was obligated to do by law and the Constitution and that is to gazette the panel that will see the picking of IEBC commissioners)
He maintained that he has no preferred individual in the selection panel because the Constitution does not give the president an opportunity to pick a member. The head of state stated that all the individuals currently sitting in the panel were picked as per the laid down procedures in Law.
“Those telling me not to follow the law and the Constitution and operate as their demands and self-interests which is not in the law, jameni hiyo sitafanya, I am sorry wacha tu niwaambie, hiyo haiwezekani,” he said.
He argued that breaking the law to accommodate the interests of ‘self-centered’ individuals is a way of promoting impunity in the country. He told the leaders that if they have a problem with any part of the Constitution they are free to amend it but through the right process.
Ruto made the remarks during a church service at Chuka in Tharaka Nithi on March 12. Among the demands, Raila has issued to Ruto is to halt the process of the formation of IEBC.
He has taken issue with the procedure adopted by the Kenya Kwanza in filling slots in the selection panel saying all parties should be allowed to pick nominees who will select commissioners for the agency.
“Kenya does not belong to one person. We must end the culture of stealing votes and that is why we want IEBC commissioners to be selected by all political parties, not a unilateral decision,” Raila said in Narok on March 11.
But, according to Ruto, the panel was created in accordance with the law of Kenya noting all relevant institutions submitted their preferred candidates.
The opposition leaders, he said, were free to continue with their planned demonstrations but warned them against breaking the law. The head of state at the same said Kenya Kwanza was ready to work with all leaders irrespective of their political affiliations in planning development.
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