Opinion: Don’t let Ezra Chiloba be the fall guy for the rigging machine of IEBC!

Some are giddy and happy about the termination of employment of IEBC’s Ezra Chiloba this week. However, people shouldn’t jump of joy, as there have been changes in the leadership of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Just as the newly appointed IEBC leadership of 2011 with Chairman Hassan Isaack and change in 2016. When Wafula Chebukati got appointed in his stead in 2016. Still, inside the IEBC as before was Chiloba just working in the background as before.

That he got terminated over tenders and contracts are foolish at this point. As we all know the questionable behavior of the IEBC during the Presidential Elections in 2017. We can also wonder what Chiloba did with the previous leadership and elections of 2013, as there was speculations then also of rigging too. Therefore, the relevance of position and of what he did during his tenure there.

However, Chiloba shouldn’t be the fall guy. Chiloba didn’t do this acts alone and did answer to someone above. He didn’t go like an empty drone into this and do this only on his own merry. That wouldn’t believe, as someone ordered him around and asked him to fix. This was known by his previous boss and the current one.

That Chebukati and the rest of the Commissioners should be put in doubt too. Because all of them was in-charge and fixed the contracts with OT-Morpho, Cambridge Analytica and the printing companies. This wasn’t just done by one, neither was the assassination of ICT Expert and Manager Chris Msando and the assassination of CS Joseph Nkaissery. All of this happen days before the elections and even in relation to the polls. That is why these memories will still linger on, as the questions of what happen and who ordered it. The Ghost of Jacob Juma will also follow the organization and the ruling regime, as his words has happen as he said and what he expected from the authorities. Therefore, the IEBC are not alone in this and the truth of the matter, is that Chiloba wouldn’t able to all of this on his own.

Chiloba is one of many to blame, it was organized and was done with a purpose, it was all done to secure the tenure of Kenyatta and Ruto. It was done to secure the Jubilee and their established power. It wasn’t done to secure the votes of the people and neither legitimacy of a supposed credible vote. That went down the storm-drain with the rain-water.

So, the ones thinking the termination of Chiloba will fix it all. I doubt it. It didn’t change with the changes of chairmen either. If it was Hassan Isaack or Wafula Chebukati. The Kenyan election experience was as hostile and lack of transparency as usual. For the single purpose of securing the elite and their need of all power.

Chiloba did that, but not alone. He did it as per orders and per request. By both all Commissioners did so. Not only single individual. If it was only his way and his methods was behind this, than the change of Chairmen should have mattered, but it didn’t. That is why there is a need of change within the IEBC and also reforms of the organization. Not just make Chiloba jump on the sword, he is far from innocent, but he didn’t act alone. Peace.

IEBC: Statement on the Termination of the contract of Ezra Chiloba (12.10.2018)

IEBC: Statement by Ezra Chiloba on Termination of Service – 12th October 2018

Opinion: Why isn’t Chiloba in more trouble?

We can start to wonder, what does it take to go from an internal audit of tenders and files within the Independent Boundaries and Electoral Commission (IEBC) after the General Election and Fresh Presidential Elections of 2017 to go into a real inquiry and direct investigations into the manners of what really was done during that period?

Because now in 2018, there been internal problems and deflections, as the IEBC has tried to shield themselves and tried to make themselves clean without even during cleaning. They have tried to fix things, without doing anything else, but for appearances sake.

Today’s news:

“POLICE ARREST Chiloba PA Abednego Ominde and acting IEBC Finance director Agatha Wahome after attempt to sneak out 14 procurement files” (NationBreakingNews, 13.09.2018).

The suspension of Ezra Chiloba haven’t changed anything, there are Commissioners who has returned as they was even paid while they had quit their offices. Therefore, the whole IEBC seems shady as it is and Wafula Chebukati doesn’t seem to handle it very well. As the trust of the organization is lack-luster already and today’s activity is just a long string of ill-activity from the government organization.

Chiloba must really be shielded by the high-above, Chiloba have to be connected up-high and gotten suction from either the DP or the President. Because Chiloba are suspended, but still pulling strings within the organization. The Internal Audit which is continuing, are not seemingly addressing the manners of 2017 or anything that glaces trust towards the electorate. There are just more mere saga of drama, without any smoking gun.

Chiloba can act all out and play innocent in these manners, but we know there are more to it. As the rigged elections, lack of transparency and lack of electoral reforms are the reasons for the issues that are there today. That Chiloba continued and Chebukati, as well as the rest of team, expect for Roselyn Akombe who has left the scene. The rest have returned and the reality right now is that IEBC can do whatever and get away with it. As the IEBC gave the results the Jubilee needed and now they just need to make a circus so that it seems to changes of guards, but the reality is they are gearing up to do more of the same later. Without anyone looking into the servers, the connections to Cambridge Analytica or the OT Morpho. Everything are just moving like nothing.

Chiloba is just half-stepping and gets away, the IEBC does the same. There is no promise. Chiloba are just acting out and so does the organization. Chebukati doesn’t feel this or acts stressed. They are just playing the public without any smoke or fire. It is just acting out, but no real change. That should worry Kenyans, but they have more dire needs with more cost of life, more taxes and a broke state with growing debts. Peace.

Opinion: The IEBC need to be destroyed and rebuilt!

Again, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) are in the headlines, and not for the right reasons. They are posting a possible review of the 2017 Elections. However, that they will have any consequence that makes sense. Is most likely not, as the IEBC delivered what the Jubilee Party needed. This being the result that President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto needed to continue in power. They got that and was able to settle it and ensure they still could eat. Even if the rigging was blatant and the obvious mismanagement from the IEBC.

Therefore, there been many Commissioners and leadership role of the IEBC whose left their offices. As they we’re questioning the leadership of CEO Ezra Chiloba or Chairman Wafula Chebukati. Both of them has acted questionably during the Fresh Presidential Elections and also in the first round too. Which was for various reasons even annulled by the Supreme Court and Court Justice David Maraga.

That is why today is surprising:

“Connie Maina and Margaret Mwachanya, who announced their resignation from the electoral commission earlier this year, returned to their offices at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi on Friday” (…) ““They’ve been holed up in their respective offices since they arrived,” said the source. In April, IEBC vice chairperson Connie Maina and commissioners Margaret Mwachanya and Paul Kurgat said they had left the commission because they had no faith in the chairman’s leadership. Earlier this month, the High Court declared the resignation of the IEBC commissioners null and void” (Walter Menya – ‘Two commissioners return to IEBC offices’ 24.08.2018 link: https://www.nation.co.ke/news/Connie-Maina-Margaret-Mwachanya-at-IEBC/1056-4727216-x2d7v7/index.html).

Instead of opening the gates for the Commissioners whose done their duty to rig the elections. That are the ones who had no trouble to misuse the power, to fake results and fix tenders that made sense for Jubilee. That these are coming back are not building trust for the Electoral Commission, but instead making you think, that they are gearing up for another round.

The IEBC is already lacking trust within society as a whole. That is not just Chebukati, neither Chiloba. The IEBC was already questionable before the new leadership, as Ahmed Issack Hassan didn’t deliver anything better. All of the ones who is there is still the same con-men as in the past. Instead of reviving it, they are boasting it with the same-old, same-old.

The IEBC should be destroyed completely, the leadership should all resign and leave this job. Work somewhere else. As the trust in the whole unit is lacking. The Jubilee and the whole Parliament should try to revise the organization and even change the narrative. Because the ones that are there right now, are just conducting affairs like they are preparing to the next rigged affair.

Therefore, letting the same folks run it like they did in 2017. The review isn’t believable, as it isn’t an outside entity looking into the IEBC. But it is themselves investigating themselves. If they will find something, it will not change anything.

I doubt that the ones investigating internally want to bite of the hands that feeds themselves. That doesn’t make sense.

That is why the entering of these commissioners aren’t make change. Neither, prolonged suspension of Chiloba. Since the last lackeys of Jubilee is still lingering. So, they are just preparing for 2022 anyway. Peace.

IEBC: Press Statement on the Adoption of Internal Audit (24.08.2018)

Kenyatta: What happen to the Life Style Audit, Mr. President?

Somewhere in between Eldoret and Nairobi, the Life Style Audit got lost. It was supposed to be launched this mid-June 2018. Since then it been just hot-air and nothing proven, the authorities and the public officials haven’t been touched. Neither have senators, cabinet secretaries or even representatives in the national assembly, neither have any of the county officials or leaders of the state owned companies. All of these have been left untouched and it has just been words from the Jubilee Administration and leadership itself.

“Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday announced that all public servants including himself and his deputy will undergo lifestyle audit as part of efforts to fight rampant corruption in the country. Kenyatta said in a statement that the public servants will be asked to explain the source of their wealth and those found culpable with the plunder of national resources will be required to defend their source of wealth. “You must be able to explain how you got your car, your house and land in comparison to what you earn,” Kenyatta said in the coastal city of Mombasa after launching a key road project” (Xinhua, 2018).

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto have been all talk and no play. Because, they know that if they are really looking into it, they might end up finding more trouble than it is worth. The Jubilee administration have been fabulously oblivious to it all.

It is now soon August 2018 and two months has gone without any action. That is natural, as the Life Style Audit would hurt their allies and the inquiry into the funds would hurt themselves. They would reveal the money trail, the cartels of sugar and imports, it would reveal how the money is moving from the state to shareholding or shell-corporations that doesn’t exists. Clearly, the Jubilee don’t want that, they don’t want to reveal where all the money goes.

We will certainly wait forever, because the state don’t want their closest allies into trouble, neither their support or the cronies hurt. They are all there because of the Jubilee and don’t want to loose them now. That will just hurt their base and their network of power. Therefore, the postponement of the audit is the reason for this.

Kenyatta and Ruto have really planned this inaction… they are officially launching it, but will not really do it. Since that will just hurt themselves and who is foolish enough to hunt after their own. They will not do that and they would not criminalize and detain their own. That is not how it works, even if the Jubilee are clearly more corrupt, than in the past. Peace.

Reference:

Xinhua – ‘Kenya orders lifestyle audit of all public servants to curb graft’ 16.06.2018 link: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-06/15/c_137254473.htm

Resolution of the Wiper Democratic Movement NEC/PG meeting held at Wiper House, Nairobi – Press Release: Current Political Landscape After the Handshake (28.07.2018)

Kenya: Taskforce in Building Bridges in Unity – Press Release (25.07.2018)

Opinion: What role does Odinga now have?

After the 9^th March handshake between ODM and NASA Principal Raila Odinga and Jubilee leader and President Uhuru Kenyatta. Both of them have worked together with the Building Bridges initiative. This have not only changed the dynamics within the NASA and with the leadership there, as the NASA Co-Principals Moses Wetangula, Musalia Mudavadi and Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka. Who all was left behind by the handshake, just as Odinga was left behind on the Swearing-In on the 30^th January 2018. Therefore, this shouldn’t matter now, but is just mere politics and who gets the upper-hand.

Odinga got the upper-hand and left the other Co-Principal behind. It was dead on revival with that handshake. The President got the NASA under his wings without paying much and with co-operation directly with Odinga. Therefore, the problem now, is that Odinga has no official title or place, but is still accepted as a big man.

That is why I am starting to wonder, because he has been as an official ambassador-at-large in South Africa, Sudan and in India. This combined with the statement of making changes in government, like the fights against corruption and stopping it. You can start to wonder what Odinga does and what is his part now. Since he is vocal, but also are acting as a public official like abroad.

The President Kenyatta and Deputy President Ruto has their part, the same has the rest of the cabinet, the other appointed officials and appointed leaders of state owned enterprises, but Odinga has no official title. Odinga cannot just be running cat-and-mouse after Kenyatta.

I wonder if he has the perks of a public official? I wonder why he hasn’t a title? Because James Orengo is the head of the Opposition in the Senate, but if the Odinga is part of the government and working as a part of government, how can fellow party members in Parliament be “opposition” leaders?

Because, it seems more and more like an unofficial Prime Minister under Kenyatta and Ruto, but not as a Cabinet Secretary in the Cabinet of the Jubilee. He should be sworn-in and appointed to something, especially when he is traveling as a representative to the India, South Africa and Sudan.

I don’t feel by how he acts and performs as the long-arm of the government, but not as the opposition. Odinga is more than an opposition figure, he is not directly there. The Building Bridges Initiative and activity proves that.

Therefore, what is the stance of Jubilee Administration and Kenyatta, what should they do about this? Because Odinga is clearly in cahoots with them, but nothing more official than the handshake and the agreement.

They shouldn’t trick the public, but offer the public the real deal and show good governance. Peace.