MP Mutuse accuses leaders of using courts to delay IEBC reconstitution

Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse has fired at a section of leaders for allegedly fueling the delayed reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

According to Mutuse, a number of leaders are deliberately lodging cases in court to bar the reconstitution of the electoral body.

“We have seen that there is a monopoly. There are people who are going to court to prevent the reconstitution of IEBC so that they start attacking the government,” he said at a burial at in Kibwezi, Makueni County.

“Those involved must declare your intentions because we wanted IEBC to be formed last year, yesterday and today. We know your monopoly and we will not allow you to derail Kenyans.”

He said the IEBC selection panel should be allowed to carry out its mandate, adding that appointing new commissioners is long overdue and the nation needs to make early preparations for the 2027 General Election.

He added that reconstituting the commission will pave way for conducting by-elections in constituencies that do not have elected leaders.

“I will go to court so that we conclude those cases so that Kenyans have an IEBC to conduct by elections and prepare for the next elections,” he said.

Currently, there is an injunction at the Court of Appeal challenging the setting up of a selection panel which will be tasked with finding new IEBC commissioners.

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has called for thelifting of the injunction, accusing the state of using a proxy to deliberately delay the  process of hiring a new commission through court cases.

"They have wasted alot of time. Let them withdraw the case that is state sponsored through a judge in Kiambu. That was a tactic to delay reconstitution of the panel and then the IEBC," Kalonzo stated 

"The ball is in William Ruto's court to tell his proxies to withdraw the matter in the Court of Appeal." 

Setting the nine member panel has suffered a blow following the tussle within the Azimio la Umoja coalition, pitting National Liberal Party (NLP) and Wiper party in limbo of picking a representative to the panel.

NLP has fronted Dr. Augustus Muli while Wiper picked Koki Muli.