Ruto urges Raila to call off demos, proposes bi-partisan approach to resolve stalemate on IEBC commissioners

President William Ruto has proposed a bi-partisan approach to resolve the ongoing stalemate with the opposition regarding the recruitment of new electoral commissioners, which partly contributed to calls for mass demonstrations across the country recently.

Speaking to members of the press at State House Nairobi on Sunday, the Head of State called on opposition leader Raila Odinga to call off planned demonstrations to allow parliament to look into his concerns on the recruitment of the new commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

"Considering the matters raised on this particular subject, I suggest a bi-partisan engagement in Parliament on the reconstitution of the IEBC panel within the parameters of the law and the constitution," Ruto said.

President Ruto said the protests called by the opposition chief had left a trail of destruction and loss of lives, threatening the country's economic stability.

"Three Kenyans, among them a police officer have lost their lives in the protests. More than four hundred Kenyans, including at least 60 security officers have been injured. A Police vehicle was burnt to ashes, while another was hijacked and commandeered by unruly protestors. Two houses of worship were burnt down. Kiosks, supermarkets and a mortuary were looted.

"Our Country’s image and history in the league of Modern Nations has been at stake. The Country’s economy has been hard hit, at a time when my administration is doing everything possible to salvage the economy from the deep hole it was in.

"... In view of the recent events that led to the loss of lives and property in the demonstrations, I urge my brother Raila Odinga and the opposition to call off the demonstrations and to give this bi-partisan approach a chance for us to take the country forward," Ruto said.

The President, however, brushed off Azimio's claims on the Kenya Kwanza administration's legitimacy, saying the matter was settled by the Supreme Court in September last year.

"The Supreme Court of Kenya heard and determined with finality, the 2022 Presidential election dispute and ruled on the petitions that were filed by the aggrieved contestants and their supporters," Ruto reacted to Raila's claims that his victory was stolen.

Raila, who accuses the IEBC of denying him victory in the last general election, had expressed his reservations over the recently passed the IEBC (Amendment) Bill 2022 that altered the first schedule of the parent Act, to change the composition of the selection panel that oversees the filling of vacancies at the commission. He also opposed the appointment of a seven-member panel to recruit the new electoral officials.

He accused the President of deliberate attempts to influence the recruitment of the new team that will replace commissioners who retired, resigned or were removed from office over gross misconduct and abuse of office.

The bill which the President assented into law in January proposes expansion of the IEBC selection panel to include two slots for the Parliamentary Service Commission, the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya to have two slots, one slot for the Public Service Commission and another slot each for the Political Parties Liaison Committee and the Law Society of Kenya.

Those on the seven-member selection panel recruiting new commissioners are Bethuel Sugut and Novice Euralia Atieno, who represent the Parliamentary Service Commission.

Others are Charity Kisotu, the vice chairperson of the Public Service Commission (PSC), and Evans Misati James from the Political Parties Liaison Committee.

The Law Society of Kenya is represented by Benson Ngugi Njeri while Nelson Makanda and Fatuma Saman represent the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya.

Makanda, a preacher and theologian, was picked to chair the panel that has already advertised vacancies in the commission.

Ruto had last month declined to halt the process of recruiting new commissioners, saying he followed the law while forming the recruitment panel.

“I will not operate outside the law. I will not operate outside the Constitution. I will ensure that everyone in Kenya is governed by the law. The IEBC selection committee has been constituted according to the law. Every institution that was supposed to front a representative has already done so,” he said.

“What I did is just to gazette the panel. I don’t have any individual that I have fronted to represent my interests. The constitution does not have any provisions that can allow the President to front anyone. I will not do what our friends in the opposition are telling me to do. They want to have their personal interests represented and will not succumb to that. If we follow that route we will be promoting impunity in Kenya.”