Opinion: Odinga’s withdrawal is a brave step hopefully towards a new beginning!

Raila Odinga and Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka decision to pull out of the Fresh Elections of 26th October 2017. Proves character, proves swagger and belief that the vision of a conducted free and fair elections under the current leadership of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. Who is preparing just about a similar election as the one made on the 8th August 2017. There is lacking or no proof of any significant change after the annulment of the previous enterprise. Just a few mere small changes, that could be seen as insignificant by anyone.

Then also has the Jubilee Administration together with the IEBC undermined the efforts of changing the organization and the electoral body. It is insane to use the same companies to service the same sort of arrangement and believe that results be different. The lack of transparency and accountability for the missteps of August is proven. Instead they been steady pumping without any disregard of the consequences. They have not been listening or even showing any progress. The talks been facade and play for the gallery, as they want to stall for time. So that the National Super Alliance (NASA) would be again put in a corner and again has to petition the elections to the Supreme Court.

Uhuru Kenyatta might celebrate today, even Deputy President William Ruto, but if they do, they are foolish and ignorant to the fact. The mere election of 26th October is another front and not a real election. Since the competition is not there, there we’re two candidates on the ballot and now there are one. Certainly, this should be seen as a slap in the face of the incumbent President. The race towards 26th October has suddenly stopped.

We just have to wait and see if the NASA also writes to notify the IEBC. That is they obliged by law. But the Press Conference and officially withdrawing in public. Should really rattle the cage of the IEBC. Since their plan of same procedure should silence that. That the Jubilee throws shade and says it just continues is foolish. Because its not just to continue as usual.

That IEBC Secretariat has a hard battle to just continue and finish this one. That Chairman Wafula Chebukati and CEO Ezra Chiloba have to decide what they do, since the IEBC has not clean hands. They have to wash them and also find another soap. The soap and the water they are using is far from clean. Therefore, IEBC has to change guards and reform to become trustworthy.

Following the withdrawal of the NASA presidential candidate, the Commission and the legal team are meeting and will communicate way forward” (IEBC, 10.10.2017). We can just wait and see if the IEBC finds their way, if they will just announce Kenyatta or they will re-issue and actually try reform the electoral body.

Now is the time, his bravery is shown and now is the time for IEBC to step up their game. The cards are in play, Kenyatta is not yet the winner and neither is the date of 26th October put in stone. Since the law and the Electoral Codes has to be followed, by those provisions that are there. Peace.

Kenya: NASA Statement on Maa Community Talking Notes (09.10.2017)

Kenya: NASA Statement – “Uhuru must stop playing victim on Economy” (08.10.2017)

Kenya: Klukumi letter to the EACC – “Re: Registrar of the Supreme Court” (06.10.2017)

NASA: Norman Magaya Memorandum to the NASA Leadership – “Subject: Forth Coming Demonstrations” (07.10.2017)

NASA Letter to Nairobi Police Commander Japheth Koome: “Re: Notification of a Peaceful Demonstration to IEBC Headquarters on Monday 9th October, Wednesday 11th October and Friday 13th October 2017” (06.10.2017)

Kenya: NGOs Co-Ordination Board – “Re: Closure of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) Offices and Suspension of their Operations in Kenya” (05.10.2017)

Opinion: The IEBC cannot sway bloggers by a simple forum; it is their own mismanagement and lack of transparency, which is the reason for their predicament!

That the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has mailed prominent Kenyan bloggers for a meeting at the Windsor Golf Hotel, the mail titled: ‘Re: IEBC & Bloggers/Influencers Engagement Forum’, which was happening today at the Hotel. Shows the disregard of the public and revealing spectrum of lacking transparency from the IEBC.

You know the whole arrangement in this climate and with the record of accomplishment the IEBC have, that the whole words of: “The Commission wishes to engage with you on how to increase public confidence and participation in the forthcoming elections slated for 26th October 2017. Your participation is highly appreciated”. When the IEBC wants to secure public confidence before the elections and trying to pamper critical voices, you know the set-up already.

The bloggers invited does not follow the standard media protocol; neither follow the easily manufactured stories benefiting the elites and their will. They publish what they like and reveal exactly what they find from their own perspective. They have no stakeholders or no one doing their checks and balances. The Media houses and broadcasters has to follow standards and be controlled by the state to get license, but a blogger can publish as he or she pleases without asking anyone. That is why the IEBC contacts them and know their pivotal role in public discourse.

Many of these blogger would have written different stories if the state provided them with facts and actual actions that differs from what we are seeing today. The bloggers could not be so critical of the IEBC, if the IEBC complied with the provisions and the electoral laws, applied to the Constitution and actually cared about transparent about it. If the IEBC actually cared about the general state of elections and actually delivered on the necessary requirements of their vital role. Instead, they are trying to deflect and polish their reputation.

These bloggers should not be caught sipping the cocktails and juice with the IEBC; they should be looking into the newest revelations and documents of their planned behavior. Reveal the matters to the public and show that it is more of the same. The IEBC is acting as it did in August 2017. There are no changes before the fresh elections and the second standoff between Kenyatta and Odinga. Just more of the same. The tragedy unfolding before our eyes and the IEBC hopes we hold our eyes shut. Therefore, we do not see and close our ears, so we cannot listen.

Tabitha Mutemi, are surely acting in good faith as the Manager of the IEBC Corporate Affairs, who sent out this invitation and e-mail. Surely directed by the IEBC Secretariat, who wants to sway the bloggers to write post that is more festive and tweets. Instead, they should know that signal IEBC is sending is that they want to silence or muffle the bloggers into their sphere.

They should deliver and reform, but decided to not, because Jubilee said they did not have too. If not, it is how it’s perceived and the people got the message. So these sort of acts from the IEBC does not change the road-map or their standing in public. That the IEBC showed blatant disregard of the laws to benefit Kenyatta, still exists and has not left the building. It is still there and the bloggers have every right to write them up on it, until they change to become INDEPENDENT, not be a subsidiary of the Jubilee. Peace.

NASA Statement: “NASA Political Programs Continue” (04.10.2017)

Law Society of Kenya – “Registrar of the Supreme Court” (03.10.2017)