IEBC officials accuse Raila, Midiwo of intimidation

By Steve Mkawale and Vitalis Kimutai

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has found himself on the spot over alleged intimidation of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Raila is under siege after a video clip aired by KTN captured IEBC chairman Issack Hassan and two other commissioners complaining of intimidation by the PM and some ODM legislators.

The clip that was recorded moments before IEBC announced the March 4, 2013 election date shows the two commissioners and their chairman saying they were being threatened. Two commissioners were heard conversing about an SMS allegedly from joint Government Chief Whip Jakoyo Midiwo.

But Hassan is heard interjecting the conversation saying the PM told him after a meeting that "Tutakupiga vita, lakini wewe endelea tu (We will fight you but you go on with your work)."

Dangerous trend

The video has since been posted on You Tube. On Wednesday four MPs expressed shock over the claims and demanded that the premier offers a public apology.

MPs Jeremiah Kioni (Ndaragwa), John Mututho (Naivasha), Nuh Abdi (Bura) and North Horr MP Chachu Ganya expressed fears over interference of independent constitutional institutions by the Executive.

They told a news conference at Parliament Buildings that the PM was setting a dangerous trend of undermining constitutional office bearers.

Dr Abdi urged Raila to use legal mechanism whenever he has issues with constitutional institutions instead of engaging in intimidations and threats. Ganya urged the PM to respect IEBC saying he has a duty to uphold the Constitution.

The PM has in the recent past been on the spot over his utterances about the Kenyan case at the ICC and rebuking a court ruling.

Meanwhile, IEBC will kick off mock elections in Kajiado North and Malindi constituencies on Saturday.

The exercise is meant to test IEBC’s preparedness to conduct the next General Election, which is going to be the most complex and expensive since Independence.

Mr Albert Bwire, an IEBC commissioner said 12 polling stations with 62 streams had been opened for the ‘election’ in Kajiado North Constituency represented by Internal Security Minister George Saitoti.

We expect at least 30,000 voters to turn up for the election in polling stations opened in urban and rural parts of the constituency," Bwire said.

Bwire, who was flanked by Nairobi Regional Election Coordinator Bilha Kiptugen and Returning Officer Naisae Tobiko, said 300 clerks had been deployed to oversee the event.

"The polling stations will be open from 8am to 3pm. Voters are only required to vote using the national identity cards," Bwire said.