Ruto allies tell off Kalonzo over IEBC reconstitution

Kenya Kwanza leaders on Sunday told off Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka over his rejection of the IEBC nomination list.

Speaking during an interdenominational Church Service and a fund drive at Nandi Hills stadium, the leaders in a coordinated fashion sustained attacks on Kalonzo over the IEBC matter. The event was hosted by President William Ruto’s aide, Farouk Kibet and area MP Bernard Kitur.

On Saturday, Kalonzo accused President Ruto of unilaterally selecting the IEBC chairperson and its commissioners against the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report.

Speaking during the burial of Kariobangi North MCA Joel Munuve in Migwani, Kitui County, Kalonzo said he had written to President Ruto and ODM boss Raila Odinga on the matter but didn’t get any feedback.

“You cannot be a player and pick a referee. I have written to Ruto and Raila Odinga as a principal during NADCO, and I have not received any response. We are not going to allow this thing to be easy. But we have said, nevertheless, that we are ready! Ata Ruto mwenyewe akijifanya yeye ndio chairman wa IEBC, Ruto must go!” Kalonzo told mourners.

However, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot said he was with Kalonzo in the NADCO team and nowhere was it agreed in law that he should be consulted.

“Where in the law does it say that you should be consulted? When you were with Uhuru Kenyatta and putting together the Cherera Forum, did you consult William Ruto? If you didn’t ask him anything, why do you expect to be consulted now? Cheruiyot asked.

He added that by Kalonzo complaining even before the 2027 match starts, he was already surrendering.

‘Therefore, Ruto is going to be President for 10 years non-stop,” the Kericho senator added.

His National Assembly counterpart, Kimani Ichungw’ah, who was Kalonzo’s co-chair in NADCO, accused the former Vice President of frustrating the reconstitution of the IEBC through the courts.

“There are people who sent two Mulis to frustrate the selection panel, and when the case was determined, and the panel vetted the commissioners and handed the names to the President, I am seeing others who don’t have faith in anything have started bringing issues with the candidates,” Ichugw’ah said in a veiled salvo at Kalonzo.

Koki Muli was appointed to the IEBC Selection Panel as Wiper party representative.

"Turkana’s are Kenyans and have the right to lead the IEBC commission like any other Kenyan. Those who are criticising the IEBC chairman [nominee] and the other nominated commissioners are the same ones who have lost faith in our country and lack an agenda in their politics. If you ask them what their agenda is, they will say Ruto Must Go,” Ichungwa’h said.

Kibet said the IEBC matter cannot wait and that MPs should approve the nominations as fast as possible.

"We have constituencies that don’t have representatives, and we have some people in the opposing party who are opposing everything. The IEBC is being reconstituted to help Kenyans so that elections can be done and they are out there shouting Ruto Must Go. Don’t these people need prayers? Kibet said.

National Assembly Majority Whip Sylvanus Osoro (South Mugirango) told of Kalonzo, saying his preferred candidate for the IEBC job should have applied and been vetted for the same.

“Interviews were done on live TV and you are now complaining that this one was picked, this is the one who should have been selected, the vote is not cast by the IEBC but by citizens,” Osoro said.

On his part, Kibwezi West legislator Mwengi Mutuse said the selection of the IEBC team was consultative.

“This was a consultative process because it started in Bomas under NADCO, which was chaired by Kalonzo Musyoka and Kimani Ichungw’ah, where they brought us a law that recommended the expansion of the selection panel. Kalonzo put forward the name of his representative, Dr Koki Muli. The list of names forwarded to the President has a signature of Kalonzo’s representative,” Mutuse said.

Speaking at St Luke ACK Church in Kikuyu, Kalonzo reiterated that President Ruto cannot form the IEBC by himself.

“We cannot have a William Ruto IEBC,” he said, adding that the process should be independent of other external forces.

DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa said Ruto named the IEBC unilaterally without consulting the opposition, as ODM leader Raila Odinga is now in government. 

"But even if you go ahead and handpick that chairman, even if you name Farouk Kibet chairman, we are going to beat and send you to Sugoi," Eugene said.