Kenya Elections: Raila Odinga to initiate private criminal prosecution of IEBC officials

National Super Alliance (NASA) has now resolved to institute private criminal prosecution election agency officials accused of bungling the August 8 election. This comes even as they maintained that there will be no election next month if the demands they have tabled at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) are not met.

The resolution read by NASA co-principal and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula, stated that they will only be willing to participate in an election that meets the highest standards of electoral integrity. At the same time, the coalition has dismissed claims that Musalia Mudavadi, a founder member of the coalition, had quit as had been widely circulated in social media.

Mr Mudavadi who was present invited Mr Wetang’ula to read the press statement. “We have resolved to institute private prosecution against the individuals at IEBC who we believe are culpable for the mess of the August 8 elections. We believe that the Director of Public Prosecutions and other Government agencies charged with the responsibility are partisan and have failed,” said Wetangula.

After a five-hour meeting, the Opposition lawmakers resolved that their members will not join any parliamentary committee in the two Houses until what they termed ‘electoral injustice’ is fixed in the country. Parliamentary committee They said if they form or join a parliamentary committee, they will be endorsing an illegality and abuse of the Constitution, arguing that Parliament was not officially convened.

“We have resolved that our MPs will not be party to any parliamentary committee. They will only do so in a situation devoid of any illegalities,” said Wetangula.

Wetangula, who spoke on behalf of the lawmakers, insisted that their resolve not to participate in the forthcoming elections unless their grievances are met is not a ‘boycott’ but rather ‘no’ elections.

However, IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati had gazetted October 17 as the date for the fresh presidential election after the Supreme Court nullified the election and ordered IEBC to conduct a fresh poll. NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga has insisted that he is ready to participate in the re-match against his political rival President Uhuru Kenyatta but only if all his demands are addressed.

Wetangula further said NASA will not participate in an election as a ritual, but an election that is credible and devoid of irregularities and illegalities.

“We must fix this country. We must fix the electoral injustice that has been here for far too long. No accountability, no elections next month,” said Wetangula.

The meeting agreed to stand by the irreducible minimum sent to IEBC if they are to participate in the elections.

“We cannot go to an election where the password for the results transmission system is with three people. One from a Jubilee supporter, one from Ezra Chiloba and another one from Safran Mophor in France. If we do that there will be no difference,” said the source.

At the same time, Nasa will hold a rally in Nairobi’s Dandora on Sunday as part of their efforts to push for change at IEBC.

Standard Digital