Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya leader Raila Odinga now says the coalition will organise a prayer session to pray for Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) next week.
Speaking after meeting Azimio-leaning senators in Nairobi on Wednesday, February 15, Raila said the prayer will be conducted outside IEBC premises.
"We will also be doing a prayer for the IEBC. That we have a better IEBC to defend the rights of our people. That prayer will be done in front of the premises of IEBC (Anniversary Towers)," Raila said.
The Azimio leader has maintained that his coalition will not participate in reconstituting the electoral body that currently has no commissioners.
During Azimio Parliamentary Group meeting last week, the coalition said it was opposing the formula to be used in filling the vacant positions.
"Azimio parliamentary group reiterates that it will not participate in the reconstitution of IEBC through the formula and process being proposed by the Kenya Kwanza regime," it said in a statement.
Ruto on IEBC vacancies
On Tuesday, February 14, President William Ruto gazetted IEBC chairperson and five commissioner positions as vacant.
"Therefore in exercise of the powers conferred by section 7A (2) of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act. 2011 as read with paragraph 1 I) of the First Schedule to the Act. I. William Samoei Rut, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces declare vacancies in the positions of - a)Chairperson: and b) Five Members of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission," Ruto said.
Six positions, including that of the chair, are up for grabs following the retirement of Wafula Chebukati (chair), Boya Molu, and Abdi Guliye.
Three commissioners—Juliana Cherera, Justus Nyang’aya and Francis Wanderi—resigned last year rather than face a tribunal to investigate their conduct.
