The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has declared that it will investigate comments made by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, who claimed that votes were stolen in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s favor.
On Wednesday, March 16, during the swearing-in of new IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein, IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati stated that the commission was well aware of Kuria’s remarks.
The head of the election commission stated that the outspoken legislator would be summoned following his team’s inquiry.
“We know what he said, but everyone has their own version of what they said.” So, before we summon him, our investigation team is looking into it,” Chebukati said.
The Gatundu South MP stated during the UDA’s National Delegates Convention that he and other political leaders now aligned with Deputy President William Ruto helped Uhuru “steal votes” during elections.
On Citizen Tv on Tuesday, March 15, Jubilee Vice Chair David Murathe called for Kuria’s remarks to be investigated.
President Kenyatta, according to Murathe, ran a well-choreographed campaign that saw them win the election. He also stated that they are unaware of any vote tampering.
In a similar occurrence, on February 11, 2022, the IEBC summoned Murang’a Woman Representative Sabina Chege after she made statements in Vihiga county the day before, indicating that the Jubilee Party stole the 2017 elections in President Kenyatta’s favor.
Chege alleged the polls were rigged, and a similar situation could play out in the General Elections in August 2022.
Chege was unable to attend the hearing before the IEBC Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee due to illness.
Senior Counsel Otiende Amollo, the respondent’s lawyer, said, “The respondent is not in attendance today because she is ill and has been admitted to Nairobi Hospital.”
Chege sued the IEBC on February 21, claiming that it lacked jurisdiction over her case because she had not submitted any papers indicating her intention to run, nor had she proclaimed her candidacy.
She further added that if she decides to run for president in 2022, the panel has already made a decision to prevent her from running.
