Candidates warned to play by the rules

By JOHN NGIRACHU jngirachu@ke.nationmedia.com & ALPHONCE SHIUNDU ashiundu@ke.nationmedia.com  ( email the author)

Posted  Wednesday, January 30  2013 at  19:41

In Summary

• IEBC warns presidential candidates that they will be held personally responsible if campaigns flout code of conduct
• ‘‘The opinion poll we’re interested in most will be that of the Kenyan people on March 4. You’ll hear a lot of things but the final verdict will be made by Kenyans” Jubilee presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta

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The ball is now in the court of the electoral commission after the final four candidates were cleared to contest the presidency.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga of Cord and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta of Jubilee, who are the two leading contenders according to opinion polls, presented their papers to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission on Wednesday.

Commission chairman Issack Hassan was firm to the candidates and warned that there were consequences if the candidates flouted the electoral code of conduct. “They will now be held personally responsible,” said Mr Hassan.

Among documents the candidates submitted at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre is a signed electoral code of conduct prepared by the electoral commission which binds them to conduct campaigns devoid of violence, incitement to violence and bribery.

Unlike its predecessor, the IEBC has the power to disqualify candidates who engaged in electoral malpractices such as voter bribery and violence.

Mr Odinga and Mr Kenyatta promised they would concede defeat if they lost.

Others who were cleared on Wednesday were veteran politician Paul Muite and newcomer Mohammed Abduba Diba, a former teacher at Nairobi’s Lenana School.

On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Narc Kenya’s Martha Karua, Eagle coalition’s Peter Kenneth and Prof James ole Kiyiapi of Restore and Build Kenya, were cleared to vie in the March 4 General Election.

Mr Odinga said unlike in 2007, when he contested the presidency, the commission appeared better prepared.

He added: “I believe so far that if they conduct themselves like they did today, they can conduct a credible election.”

There were still cases where the electoral commission’s rules were flouted. Mr Odinga’s entourage had more than 100 people yet the rule was for a maximum of 11.

A retinue of bodyguards, aides, relatives and political friends also swelled the numbers in Mr Kenyatta’s entourage.

But their hordes of supporters were kept outside the gates where they sung and chanted as they waited for the candidates to go to their rallies at Uhuru Park (Mr Odinga) and Githurai (Mr Kenyatta).

Mr Hassan also said the commission had written formal warnings to candidates Mary Wambui, Cecily Mbarire, Njoroge Baiya and Rachel Shebesh after they stormed their offices on Tuesday last week.

Apologised in wriring

The chairman said the four politicians, all in Mr Kenyatta’s The National Alliance (TNA) party, have apologised in writing.

Mr Kenyatta and his running mate, Mr William Ruto, were the first to present their papers in the morning. Both are suspects at the International Criminal Court.

During an interview after his papers were accepted by the commission, Mr Kenyatta justified their decision to run. He said their government would function with a president and his deputy frequently flying to The Hague for their case hearings.

Mr Kenyatta was confident his second place rating in recent opinion polls by Infotrak and Ipsos Synovate would not have an effect on the March 4 vote.

“The opinion poll we’re interested in most will be that of the Kenyan people on March 4. You’ll hear a lot of things but the final verdict will be made by Kenyans,” he said.

Mr Kenyatta also downplayed the threat of sanctions on Kenya by donor countries if Kenyans elect him and Mr Ruto.

“This case is not one that has been referred to the ICC by the UN Security Council, which imposes sanctions on nations. This is a self-referral case, right? So as far as I’m concerned, the issue of sanctions does not arise.”

Mr Kenyatta and Mr Odinga and their lieutenants have sparred over the legality of land owned by the Deputy Prime Minister’s family, ostensibly acquired by the First President.

He said he is open to scrutiny and promised to expound on the matter when the Jubilee Coalition launches its manifesto in Nairobi on Sunday.

Mr Odinga asked his fellow candidates to compete as peers and avoid personal attacks.

“There will always be some pushing and shoving,” he said and asked those who lost in the nominations to campaign for those who made it to the ballot.

Mr Odinga said the leadership of his coalition would talk to candidates from parties within it to withdraw so they can have one person in each constituency.

The Prime Minister said those who own large tracts should give up some for the many landless and the Internally Displaced People from the violence that followed the last election.

“It is political hypocrisy to talk about change and you are so much part and parcel of the status quo.,” he said.

Safina presidential candidate Paul Muite says he has campaigned in 30 of the country’s 47 counties.