Kenya Today

Kenya News, analysis & in-depth reports

  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
    • Raila Odinga
    • Uhuru Kenyatta
  • Facing Justice
  • Global
  • Opinion
  • Live TV
Law Society of Kenya DEMANDS IEBC Chairman Isaac Hassan RESIGN to allow Investigations

Law Society of Kenya DEMANDS IEBC Chairman Isaac Hassan RESIGN to allow Investigations

April 27, 2016 Leave a Comment

By Isaac Okero

In order to effectively discharge its mandate as an impartial and efficient facilitator of the election process the IEBC is an institution that must have the confidence of the public. It has a serious credibility issue with complaints from all quarters of Kenyan society.

Its Chairman Isaak Hassan is the subject of an investigation by the EACC into the so called Chickengate affair but remains in office. Critical reform recommendations made by the LSK in its report on the election process have not been acted on.
Given that the general elections are 16 months away this situation is now a threat to democracy and requires the most urgent action.

The IEBC chairman must voluntarily step down as corruption investigations remain pending. Cabinet secretaries before him have done so. There should be no different standard applied. It is imperative that the IEBC be reconstituted. The process for the removal of commissioners must accord with the law and the constitution.

Citizens rights to protest, picket and demonstrate are constitutional under Article 37 provided they are peaceable and unarmed. Any deviation from these prerequisites must be condemned. Teargas and riot police placed in anticipation of citizens’ protests does not set the stage for the exercise of Article 37 rights. The use of teargas against peaceful unarmed protestors is reprehensible, provocative and represents intolerance by the government that is not a reflection of the direction we want our country to take.

We must remember that in our recent past genuine dialogue between the leadership is what has advanced the country beyond impasse. Refusing to talk to and listen to each other is not helping the country. We must talk to each other.

The Author is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and President, Law Society of Kenya.

Filed Under: Opinion

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Latest posts

Basic needs of a parliamentary aspirant in Kenya ahead of 2022 election

Analyst: Hon. Wetangula to beat DP Ruto in Kabuchai parliamentary by-election

ABSA bank sacks over 100 employees, expected to kick out 150 more to cut cost

I will defeat Raila and Ruto combined- Hon Mudavadi vows

Murathe warns DP Ruto ahead of his Muranga tour tomorrow

Bluebird Aviation reports rise in emergency medical evacuation

Disclaimer

Privacy and cookies

Copyright @ 2021 | Kenya Today