There will be no election in Kenya if ‘Cherera Four’ are not reinstated – Raila

Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga now says there will be no election in Kenya if the four embattled Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners are not reinstated.

Speaking at Kamukunji Grounds on Wednesday, December 7, Raila said President William Ruto should not be given a free hand to reconstitute the commission.

"We demand that the four commissioners be reinstated and Ruto stopped from filling the commission with his cronies otherwise there will be no election in Kenya.

He said the removal of the commissioners is not a "small thing" and should not be taken for granted by Kenyans.

"The removal of the IEBC commissioners is not a small thing. It did not start yesterday because when we gained independence, we had a democratic constitution that was formed in London at Lancaster House.

"In that constitution, we had a parliamentary system of government headed by a Prime Minister. After one year, they changed that constitution, removed the post of Prime Minister, and replaced it with a presidential system.

"And thereafter, we got a devolution government (majimbo) but that was removed by Parliament. After some time, they also changed the constitution and introduced detention without trial which was used to torture and kill people who were opposing the government.

"We are now witnessing the same and we will not allow it," he said.

The coalition also took issue with the manner in which IEBC four commissioners were treated during the disciplinary process in Parliament.

"The Ruto regime be pressed to embrace the rule of law, and embark on an inclusive and consultative process of reconstituting the IEBC failure to which Kenyans will be free to resort to other measures that will enable them to attain this goal," Opiyo Wanday, who read Kamukunji declaration on behalf of Azimio coalition, said.

The four commissioners namely Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Irene Cherop and Justus Nyang'aya disputed the presidential election outcome of the August 9 polls.

Cherera, who was serving as the commission's vice chair, and Nyang'aya have since resigned.

The remaining two are set to face a tribunal formed by President Ruto last week.

Raila's demands

The coalition also listed several demands that they want President Ruto's regime to address before January 2023.

"The Ruto administration be pressured to institute measures to reduce cost of basic commodities, particularly by restoring subsidies to unga, fuel, school fees and electricity beginning January 2023 failure to which Kenyans will be free to take such steps as they may deem fit to ease the burden of the yoke upon their shoulders," Wandayi stated.

Azimio further took issue with the reintroduction of high school fees saying Kenyans were not stable economically to sustain any increase in the cost of basic education.

"In particular, the Ruto regime must restore the school fees subsidy that saw the ministry reduce fees in all secondary schools and special needs schools.

"Ruto needs to understand that while his fortunes may have changed for the better, for a majority of parents if not all, the economic situation has become worse or remained the same," he added.

At the same time, Raila's coalition wants cash transfers to the elderly to be restored.

"The Ruto regime be made to immediately restore and enhance the subsidies in the area of social safety in the form of cash transfer to the elderly, pesa ya wazee and Linda Mama that covered maternal issues for economically disadvantaged mothers which have since been withdrawn.

"The Ruto regime be pressured and be made to institute discipline, order, and clarity in its ranks so that Kenyans can have clarity on critical policy issues failure to which Kenyans will be at liberty to disobey the incoherent roadside declarations being issued by his incompetent officers," Wandayi stated.

The coalition also wants the reinstatement of the Kazi Mtaani program and Hustler Fund be constituted in line with the rule of law, correct legislation, and without illegal threats to the youths who tap into it.

"Ruto be compelled to permanently discard any ideas and plans to bring GM crops and seeds to Kenya because of the grave danger they pose our health, environment and seeds.

"The administration must adhere to the rule of law and constitutional provisions on public participation and enactment of relevant legislation.

"We repeat that the only reason Africans have not starved to extinction is our indigenous seeds which any mother with a jembe and a piece of land can proceed to plant and replant season after season and get a little food for the night.

"If we were to wait for seeds from Europe and the Americas every season, we would be long gone," the coalition stated.