ODM dismisses Kalonzo, Wamalwa claims of interference with IEBC recruitment

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has told off opposition leaders Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, and Eugene Wamalwa over claims that ODM and UDA are interfering with the ongoing reconstitution process of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The ODM Central Committee has dismissed allegations that some of those interviewed were proxies of President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga, saying the intention of the three leaders is to derail a process that was long overdue.

The three leaders had accused ODM of colluding with President Ruto's UDA to pick a Ruto-friendly commission.

“We view the accusation by a section of Azimio leaders as an attempt to preemptively discredit the panel and the outcome of the entire process. Kenyans have waited a long time to have an electoral commission in place and will not countenance any attempts to derail or delay the process,” ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said during a presser on Wednesday.

The Odinga-led party accused Kalonzo and his political allies of being behind the delay in the formation of the selection panel and the start of a process that was agreed upon in the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report.

“It is common knowledge that NADCO was chaired by Kalonzo Musyoka, the Wiper leader. Kenyans are fully aware the inordinate delay in commencing this exercise was due to the failure to resolve the nomination of the Wiper representative to the selection panel. Following support of ODM both at the PPLC and in court, Wiper got its rightful slot,” Sifuna added.

The ODM Central Committee, which met under the chairmanship of the party leader Raila Odinga, also reiterated that the party is not in government.

“ODM is not in government, and I don’t know how many times we have to answer that question. When somebody makes such an allegation, you have to ask what is the basis of that assertion, then we can engage from there,” noted Sifuna.

The opposition leaders, who on Tuesday accused ODM of colluding with UDA to have a friendly election management team, have threatened to move to court to challenge the final list.

This is if it contains names of their allies and proxies, who they claim have already been listed for vetting.

“Na tuna haki ya kuenda mahakamani kwa sababu tuliweka hiyo ripoti kwenye sheria, na ndiyo sababu tumesema tutashughulikia kwa siasa na kisheria,” said DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa.

The leaders also claimed that a friendly IEBC is meant to enable President Ruto to secure a second term through a biased election management infrastructure.