Editor's Review

Junet appeared agitated over the ongoing political grandstanding pitting the electoral body and a section of political parties.

Suna East MP Junet Mohamed has warned the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chair Wafula Chebukati against bungling the 2022 General Elections.

In his speech when welcoming defectors from Madera County, the Suna East MP told Chebukati to focus his efforts on ensuring that the country conducts free and fair elections.

The MP appeared agitated over the ongoing political grandstanding pitting the electoral body and a section of political parties.

{IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati. Image: Courtesy}

"We as ODM we want the IEBC to conduct free, fair, verifiable and accountable elections. We are telling Chebukati that we are watching you," he said.

The MP further said that they are privy to ongoing developments, though he could not mention them, at the electoral body adding that the IEBC chair should not misconstrue their silence for ignorance.

In what appeared to be an attack targeting the UDA party on their letter concerning the preparation of the election, the MP said that is a non-issue to them,

"Do not imagine that our silence means we are not aware of what is going on. We are not interested in political gimmicks over letters written by parties. That is non of our business," he added.

Junet also relived the 2017 chaos that saw the first presidential elections declared null and void for breach of process.

He demanded that the 2022 elections must be devoid of errors witnessed in 2017 polls; adding that they will not allow the process to be compromised.

"The Supreme Court in 2017 dismissed the presidential election and ordered for reforms which IEBC refused to initiate. We won't allow getting back on that path. That mistake is what led to the Handshake to heal the country from the consequence of the blunder," Junet said.

The two-term legislator maintained that the ODM will not hesitate to take action once they are convinced that the IEBC is veering off the legal paths in preparing for the polls.

"Mr Chebukati dont provoke us because you know ODM very well. We dont care about the multi-sectoral committee role in the election. That is non of our business. We dont care about IEBC relationship with the government because we are not in government. We are doing press-ups on you," he said. 

The remarks came after the IEBC pulled out of the National Multi-Sectoral Consultative Forum (NMSCF) and its Technical Working Committee (TWC) on Election preparedness citing interference with its independence.