Raila Calls Off Planned Rallies to Protest Ouster of Four IEBC Officials

Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga has called off the planned public rallies to oppose the removal of the four IEBC commissioners who disowned the results of the August 9th presidential elections.

An Azimio parliamentary group meeting held in Nairobi on Tuesday resolved to postpone the protests to December 7th in respect of the ongoing national examinations.

Odinga vowed not to accept the National Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs Committee’s (JLAC) report on the petitions for the removal of the officials, saying it is the work of a hired hit squad and a lynch mob.

“We will not recognize their findings. We are aware JLAC will table their report on 1st and a special sitting on the 7th. This shows how myopic they are,” he said.

He claimed the planned ouster of commissioners Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Irene Masit, and Justus Nyang’aya is part of President Ruto’s scheme to rig the 2027 elections.

Odinga had on Sunday announced the coalition would hold countrywide public rallies from Wednesday to engage Kenyans on the bid to oust the four commissioners.

"This regime is trying to send home the commissioners who stood firm on the platform of the truth and this is not acceptable. The people of Kenya are not going to accept it. These people stole the elections and we cannot accept that on top of that, they send away these other commissioners and impose on Kenyans a user-friendly commission to them," Odinga said.

The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee has been hearing the four ouster petitions filed against the four IEBC officials.

The Republican Party, Dennis Nthumbi, Geoffrey Langat and Owuor Steve Gerry petitioned for their removal on grounds of gross misconduct, abuse of office, violation of the Constitution and taking sides in the August 9th presidential election.