Kalonzo Musyoka, the leader of the Wiper party, has warned President William Ruto against allegedly plotting to rig the 2027 General Election by interfering with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Speaking in Kitui’s Kyome-Thaana ward on Monday, Kalonzo said the ruling party’s attempt to remove the ‘Cherera four’ IEBC commissioners was mistimed and only served to obstruct the electoral body’s functions.
The four are IEBC Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera, Commissioners Irene Masit, Justus Nyang’aya, and Francis Wanderi, who have since been suspended by President Ruto and a tribunal formed to consider a petition to remove them from office. Cherera and Nyang’aya, on the other hand, have since resigned.
The Wiper boss also confirmed that the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party brigade will still hold the planned rally on Wednesday at Kamukunji grounds, adding that they will not allow the President to abuse his powers.
According to Kalonzo, holding peaceful demonstrations is a constitutional right, and Kenyans do not need permission from any authority to exercise their constitutional rights.
“We will still go to Kamukunji on Wednesday, and we mean well for this country. We are basically saying please do not pre-rig the 2027 General Election. Justice must be seen and this is basic, justice must not only be done but it must manifestly be seen to be done in the case of Cherera and her fellow commissioners,” he said.
Kalonzo’s remarks come after Azimio leader Raila Odinga recently chastised President Ruto for suspending the “Cherera four” IEBC commissioners with the long-term goal of allegedly controlling the commission to his advantage in the 2027 elections.
Mr. Odinga also claimed that President Ruto’s administration wants to be the sole decision-maker in appointing their preferred commissioners in order to influence the outcome of the next election.
“We have said it before and we will say it again, the tribulations of the commissioners are not about the 2022 elections. This is about the 2027 elections. Mr Ruto wants to rig 2027 elections in 2022,” he said during a press address last week.
“The four are being forced out because William Ruto and the UDA administration want a clean slate at the IEBC and fill it with his stooges and henchmen for the 2027 elections.”
