Photo/FILE William Ruto (above) and Aden Duale, who have openly declared their association with United Democratic Movement, are also listed among the applicants seeking an injunction against Local Government minister Musalia Mudavadi.
Posted Thursday, July 7 2011 at 23:24
ODM on Thursday criticised the Interim Independent Electoral Commission for refusing to de-gazette 34 councillors allied to Eldoret North MP William Ruto.
Party secretary-general, Anyang’ Nyong’o termed the decision by the electoral body “hypocritical and partisan”.
ODM had written to the IIEC informing it of its decision to revoke the nomination of the councillors and directing that they be de-gazetted. In a letter to IIEC boss Ahmed Issack Hassan, ODM argued that the councillors were advancing and promoting policies of another political party.
On Wednesday, Local Government minister Musalia Mudavadi said the party’s decision was final.
The move was seen as part of Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s strategy to punish rebels in ODM and reward party loyalists ahead of the grassroots elections.
Prof Nyong’o said ODM was acting in line with the Political Paties Act, which grants parties the right to nominate or revoke nomination of councillors.
He said IIEC had no powers to supervise political parties or veto their decisions on councillors’ nominations.
“Why is Mr Issack usurping ODM’s legal prerogative? Is he acting at the behest of William Ruto and company? Suggesting ODM first takes action on Ruto before doing so against the councillors is mischievous,” he said.
Elsewhere, Dujis MP Aden Duale and Olkejuado county council chairman Taraiya ole Kores separately criticised ODM’s decision. They called it draconian and against the party’s Constitution.
“They (councillors) were nominated on the basis of the votes and the support they gave the party in 2007,’’ Mr Kores said in Kajiado.
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