BY SAM ALFAN.
An IEBC commissioner has sensationally claimed that a number individuals among them senior government officials tried without success pushing for Raila Odinga to be declared the winner or push a run-off.
Prof Abdi Guliye says in an affidavit that during the verifying of presidential results at Bomas he was shocked to learn some people were willing to sabotage the will of the people and had the audacity to request the commission to come to their to achieve such reprehensible desire.
He added tha Raphael Tuju and former Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu visited the commission while verification process was ongoing on August 13.
The duo, he said, sought audience with him to protest about the fast tracking of the presidential candidates. It is unclear why a faster conclusion of the process seemed to bother them, he added.
He reveals that Tuju and Amos Wako attempted to force the commission to declare Odinga the president-elect or force a re-run in the August 9 presidential polls.
“Raphael Tuju spoke after senator Amos wako. He indicated that it was necessary for the results to be ‘moderated in favour of baba’ and that any contrary declaration of the results would ‘plunge the country into chaos,” says Guliye.
The commissioner says the election was conducted in a free and fair manner and at a heavy cost to the Commission’s staff and service providers who had to endure harrassment, intimidation, abduction, threat to life and even loss of life in course of duty.
Guliye further reveal that the National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC) warned IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati not to declare William Ruto as the president-elect.
Guliye affidavit state that the security committee was led by the Principal Administrate Secretary in the office of president Kennedy Kihara, Solicitor General Kennedy Ogeto, IG Hillary Mutyambai and vice chief of defence forces lieutenant general Francis Omondi Ogola.
The commissioner further adds that at 2pm, an hour before Chebukati declared results, Deputy Inspector General of Police Noor Gabow went to the holding room and informed him that a team from NSAC had arrived at the tallying centre and wanted to meet Chebukati.
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati was busy at the time but he indicated he would convene a brief meeting with the commissioners at 2 pm regarding the final results and to listen to the visiting team.
The affidavit further adds that at the meeting, Kihara relayed their message that if the commission declared Ruto as president-elect ‘the country is going to burn’.
Guliye’s affidavit indicate that Kihara proceeded to indicate that skirmishes between the Kikuyu and Luo communities had already started in several slums including Kibera and Mathare on the basis of alleged betray by the Kikuyus.
The second part of the messaged from NSAC delegation was that if we cannot announce Raila Amolo Odinga as the outright winner, then we must ensure that there is a run-off
According to the Commissioner, only Kennedy Kihara spoke at the meeting and as he concluded his remarks, he indicated that they wanted from us a message that they could take back to the National Security Advisory Committee.
In his court documents, he further adds that after Kihara concluded his remarks , the Chairperson invited them to share their views. Commissioners Nyangaya, Masit, Wanderi and Vice Chairperson Cherera were first to comment and said that the message warrants serious consideration and that they supported adoption of the communication by the NSACbefore taking a decision as to the results to be announced`
After the remarks of the first four Commissioners, he stated that the Commission has a Constitutional mandate to fulfill and that in declaring the results it will be guided by the same Constitution and applicable law
THAT the Chairperson indicated that we had all an oath of office which required fidelity to the Constitution. The NSAC delegation left shortly after at about 3pm
He further adds that after the NSAC team had left, the Commission Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer Marjan walked into the boardroom with the final results and handed over a copy of the results to each Commissioner.
“A debate ensued. Four Commissioners( Vice Chair Cherera and Commissioner Justus Nyangaya, Irene Masit, Francis Wanderi) protested and insisted that the results should be chanded in light of the NSAC delegations communication,” he adds.
