CORD Prime Minister Raila Odinga addressing the press in the past. IEBC has demanded an apology from former Prime Minister Raila Odinga over his recent claims that the military was used to rig last year’s General Election. PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI | FILE
IEBC has demanded an apology from former Prime Minister Raila Odinga over his recent claims that the military was used to rig last year’s General Election.
In a statement, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) asked Mr Odinga to take full responsibility for the sensational remarks he made or provide evidence to support his claims.
“These allegations of military involvement are false and untimely. They should have been raised during the court petition, if at all they had any basis,” said a statement from the commission. “Kenya has a Constitution and legal framework that provides a lawful mechanism to address disputes.”
The commission further described the allegations by Mr Odinga as falsehoods meant to unnecessarily hype tension in the country.
“Issuing falsehoods must be deterred by all means within the law. Therefore, we challenge Raila Odinga to substantiate his claim or withdraw and apologise,” said the statement signed by the commission’s Communication and Corporate Affairs manager, Ms Tabitha Mutemi.
According to the commission, the military was not present at the Bomas of Kenya, which was used as the tallying centre in the March 4 presidential election which Mr Odinga, the Cord candidate, lost to Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, the Jubilee Coalition flagbearer.
IEBC also denied claims that the elections were rigged, saying that only less than one per cent of the petitions filed to challenge various elections were successful.
“Subsequently, by-elections have been conducted, with the last one being for the Nyaribari Chache parliamentary seat on the 30th of December, 2013. Most of these by-elections noticeably mirrored the initial voting, further demonstrating that the process was credible, reliable and replicable,” said IEBC.
The commission described as “malicious, disparaging and utter lies” Mr Odinga’s claims that the military were in Bomas during the tallying of the presidential votes.
“The commission only engaged the Kenya Police and their GSU (General Service Unit) counterparts to provide security for everyone at the Bomas of Kenya.”
TALLYING CENTRE
At the weekend, while addressing a rally in Kisumu, Mr Odinga for the first time claimed his “poll victory” was stolen by the military personnel whom he said were sent to the Bomas of Kenya and blocked his agents from accessing the tallying centre.
He further claimed that Chief Justice Willy Mutunga was forced to read a judgment on the petition which he did not believe in.
But Mr Odinga’s team yesterday dismissed calls to have him apologise, saying he would not succumb to unnecessary blackmail.
“If there is any part of Mr Odinga’s statement the IEBC did not understand, then he is ready to help them do,” said the Cord leader’s spokesman, Mr Dennis Onyango.
Separately in a statement sent to media houses Tuesday evening by the Chair NSAC/ Assumption to Office Of the President Committee, Francis Kimemia, termed the statement by the ODM leader derogatory.
“As the Chair of the Assumption to the office of the President which also oversaw the transition process, we would like to ask the former Prime Minister to desist from inciting Kenyans through his creative and inflammatory and false allegations,” the statement read in part.
Mr Kimemia further sought to tell Odinga the military was never used in any polling /talling station countrywide insisting the process was done by IEBC officials in full view of party agents
He said the military was ‘directed’ to ‘enhance’ border ‘security’ following real Al-shabaab threats.
Mr Kimemia also told Odinga that the Bomas of Kenya was a tallying centre and not a polling station and that what was ‘reflected at the Bomas by IEBC was what was announced at the polling stations in the constituencies in presence of party agents.’
“We also urge Mr Odinga to desist from inciting Kenyans over his democratic loss and disillusionment. The 4th March Gen Election 2013 was one of the most peaceful and competitive election ever carried out in the history of Kenya and we should celebrate this moment instead of issuing inflammatory comments that may destabilize the peace that we enjoy now,” he said.

By ISAAC ONGIRI