Kenya Kwanza Committee Accuses Azimio la Umoja of Deceptive Tactics
Kenya Kwanza Bipartisan Committee alleged on Tuesday, July 4, that their Azimio la Umoja counterparts attempted to dupe them into signing illegal letters.
George Murugara, the co-chair of the Kenya Kwanza Bipartisan Committee, explained to the media in Nairobi that he would have violated the law if he had signed the letter ordering the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Selection Committee to cease its operations.
According to Murugara, his co-chair Otiende Amollo was aware that he would have broken the law by interfering with the work of the IEBC Selection Committee, as the Bipartisan Committee lacked the authority to do so.
“I explained that I had sent drafts and, as such, expected drafts with amendments in return; however, I did not receive any drafts with amendments from the Azimio la Umoja side.
“Instead, I received a final letter whose content differed from the draft I had submitted in response to the previous letters. By requesting that I sign the two letters, they were inviting me to commit an illegal act, as Murugara explained.
In particular, the Kenya Kwanza Bipartisan Team accused Otiende Amollo, the chairman of the Azimio la Umoja wing, of making convoluted demands with ill-conceived intentions to direct the IEBC on what to do.
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“It would have been unlawful to instruct the IEBC Selection Committee on what to do regarding the recruitment of new commissioners.
“The IEBC does not accept instructions from anyone. Therefore, I informed them that I was unable to sign the letters. Murugara remarked, “I found the lettering to be sloppy.”
Murugara lamented that the committee formed on 18 May 2023, after indirect negotiations between the two coalitions failed to produce an agreement on the composition of the IEBC, was also failing to resolve the issues at hand.
Therefore, the Tharaka representative urged the Azimio la Umoja colleagues to return to the negotiating table to reach a consensus on the selection and appointment metrics.
“The Kenya Kwanza Bipartisan Committee is essential to ensuring that the IEBC is comprised of credible and independent commissioners. Murugara stated that the committee’s work is crucial to ensuring that the 2027 general election is free, fair, and credible.
Since its formation, the committee had met regularly and made some progress in resolving the differences between the two coalitions.
However, on May 23, Azimio la Umoja suspended the negotiations indefinitely, citing crucial issues that must be resolved before an agreement can be reached.
Kenya Kwanza Committee Accuses Azimio la Umoja of Deceptive Tactics
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