Raila's ODM Calls for Disbandment of IEBC

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has called for a total overhaul of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) following the latest crisis that saw three of its Commissioners resign.

In a statement, ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna said that a fresh commission must be constituted before the next general elections as the current one has demonstrated its incompetency.

“The country must go back to the drawing board to relook at the entire architecture of Kenya’s electoral body,” he said in a statement.

Sifuna pointed out that the resignation of Commissioners Consolata Nkatha, Paul Kurgat and Margaret Mwachanya confirmed the fears raised by ODM in the past that the commission was incapable of conducting free and fair elections.

Speaking separately at Parliament buildings, ODM Chairman John Mbadi said the remaining two Commissioners Abi Guliye and Boya Molu, as well as Chairperson Wafula Chebukati must be sent home.

“The resigning commissioners refused to exit in public interest but have now resigned for their own selfish interests."

"What we have at IEBC are a bunch of criminals who must be weeded out. But before we get them out we must come up with modalities of recruiting new ones,” Mbadi said.

However, Mbadi cautioned that the recruitment of new officials must be done in a manner that the country won't find itself in the same mess.

“We all agree that there is a crisis at IEBC but the mistake we shouldn’t make is to hurriedly recruit new commissioners then regret it in 2022 ,” he said.

ODM youth league also called for the immediate disbandment of IEBC , including the secretariat, which is headed by suspended CEO Ezra Chiloba.