Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i/SCREENGRABFormer Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has said that the country cannot afford to play games around the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Speaking on K24, Matiang’i said that Kenya plunged into chaos in 2007 because citizens lacked confidence in the electoral body and the court system.
He insisted that it is now upon the IEBC to ensure that Kenyans have trust in the Commission.
“Where we are in our country, we cannot afford games around the IEBC. We got into problems in 2007 because people lacked confidence in the electoral commission and the courts… It's their responsibility to ensure Kenyans have faith in their work,” the former CS said.
Matiang’i said that the new commissioners understand where the country has come from and therefore should not give Kenyans any reason to have doubts.
He said any room for doubt will be a recipe for chaos.
“We cannot lack faith in the IEBC and the courts or other state agencies and think we can have peace. I don’t want to pass judgment on the new IEBC commissioners, but they must first know that there can be no peace in Kenya if the people think there is foul play around IEBC.
“They are Kenyans; they understand where the country is and the best thing that can ever happen to this country is a free, fair and transparent election.”
The former CS said that together with others in the opposition, they will be following any developments that may arise.
“I will engage my colleagues; we will observe how they discharge their mandate and if at all, there will be the games we hear about then there will be a problem.”
Matiang’i’s remarks come at the backdrop of claims by other opposition leaders that there is a plot to rig the 2027 elections.
Wiper leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, a senior figure in the opposition coalition, dismissed the new team as a "handpicked commission" and warned them against tampering with the electoral process.
“To the new IEBC, please do not try Kenyans. Already, the irregularities are far too many. Therefore, stand warned that any attempt to tamper with the electoral process will be met with unrelenting resistance,” he posted.
“The will of the people is not negotiable,” he added.
Kalonzo's remarks come just hours after Chief Justice Martha Koome presided over the swearing-in of IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon and six commissioners at the Supreme Court on Friday.
