Leaders of the Wiper Democratic Movement and the Democratic Action Party (DAP) have called for inclusive consultations before President William Ruto appoints the new chairperson and commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), citing the recently implemented NADCO report.
In a formal communication addressed to the appointing authorities, Wiper party leader Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka and DAP leader Hon. Eugene Wamalwa emphasized that any attempt to appoint commissioners without genuine opposition involvement would compromise the integrity and impartiality of the electoral body.
The leaders acknowledged the receipt of the report by the IEBC selection panel, which forwarded nine names for the appointment of six commissioners and two candidates for the chairperson’s position. They underscored the legal and political necessity of bipartisan consultations as per Paragraphs 861 and 862 of the NADCO report, which call for Kenya Kwanza and Azimio La Umoja to jointly concur on appointments to restore public confidence in the IEBC.
However, the leaders pointed out that with the ODM party now cooperating with the Kenya Kwanza administration, the mantle of representing the opposition has effectively shifted to Wiper and DAP. “With ODM party leader Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga aligning with the ruling coalition, the legitimate voice of the opposition now rests with Wiper and DAP,” the statement read.They further demanded the release of an exit report by the IEBC selection panel to facilitate transparency and support consensus-building efforts. The two leaders warned that excluding opposition voices from the appointment process would amount to an attempt to create a partisan electoral commission.“Any process that sidelines the opposition, or limits participation to Kenya Kwanza and ODM, will not be acceptable.
It would undermine the sovereignty of the Kenyan people and the democratic foundations laid since the post-2007 reforms,” they said.As the country awaits the final appointments, the leaders urged President Ruto to uphold constitutionalism, multi-party democracy, and the spirit of national unity envisioned in the NADCO process.
ENDS?
