Junet, Sumra face hate claims

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) yesterdsy summoned Suna East MP Junet Mohamed and former Embakasi South MP Irshad Sumra to respond to hate speech accusations.

NCIC said it is  investigating the two  over claims of incitement and hate speech in the ongoing Kibra by-election.

The summons by NCIC comes as party chairman John Mbadi is today expected to appear before the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to respond to electoral violence accusations. 

But reacting to the summons by  IEBC, ODM yesterday accused Jubilee of hatching a plot to have its candidate in the Kibra by-election Imran Okoth disqualified.

 Secretary general Edwin Sifuna said the claims were part of a calculated scheme to have its candidate locked out of the November 7 race.

Sifuna, however, said the party will appear before IEBC tomorrow to defend itself. 

Mbadi was summoned after Jubilee candidate McDonald Mariga accused ODM of orchestrating violence at his campaign rallies.

In his complaint to IEBC, Mariga says his campaign had faced a “series of well calculated, planned and executed violence” by ODM supporters, including the damage of his campaign vehicles on October 12. 

He said the attackers were acting on instructions of the leadership of Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s party which is seeking to recapture the seat left vacant by the death of Ken Okoth. 

“The violence being meted on my supporters and I is in blatant violation of Section 6 of the Electoral Code of Conduct which parties to an election signed and are expected to be bound by them,” he said and asked IEBC to take appropriate measures to prevent further violence. 

Following the complaint, IEBC’s Electoral Code of Conduct Committee secretary wrote ODM chair Mbadi, asking him to appear before it tomorrow at 10 am. 

Arguing they were not aware why they had been summoned, Mbadi said they will nevertheless present themselves at the IEBC offices to hear the charges. 

Demand evidence

“There are no details of what we have done to warrant the summons, but as a party that respects the rule of law, we will present ourselves there on time and demand to be informed about the accusations so that we can respond. We will demand evidence,” Sifuna told People Daily yesterday. 

Mbadi, he said, will be accompanied by ODM lawyers including Siaya Senator James Orengo, MPs TJ Kajwan’g (Ruaraka), Otiende Omolo (Rarieda), Peter Kaluma (Homa Bay Town). 

Sifuna said Jubilee leaders had sensed defeat and were trying to have ODM candidate disqualified so that they can have an easy ride.

“They have openly demanded that our candidate be the kicked out for the race. But that will not happen. They should be prepared to face us in the ballot,” he said. 

He asked IEBC to investigate all electoral malpractices in the by-election campaigns, saying the electoral body had ignored voter bribery and use of public resources in the campaigns. 

(ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi accused Deputy President William Ruto of turning his official residence into a campaign ground, saying by hosting delegations of Kibra voters, he was actively breaching the Election Offences Act 2016.

 Is IEBC not aware that this is abuse of public resources? Is this not a breach of electoral rules?” posed Mudavadi, whose candidate is Eliud Owalo.