UDA Party Writes to IEBC Demanding ICT CS Mucheru's Resignation for Campaigning for Raila

Deputy President William Ruto’s UDA party has written to Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) protesting ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru’s involvement in political campaigns.

UDA is demanding Mucheru’s resignation for allegedly campaigning for the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition presidential flagbearer Raila Odinga, saying that he could use his docket to influence the results of the upcoming elections.

The party’s secretary-general Veronica Maina cited Mucheru’s recent remarks that they “would ensure the elections are free and fair by making sure systems work”.

“In light of the foregoing, we write this protest letter to bring to your attention as the body mandated to conduct elections the remarks by the Cabinet Secretary for ICT and request that you look into the matter and guarantee all parties and Kenyans free and fair elections come August this year,” Maina said in a protest letter to IEBC.

While calling on the commission to explain Mucheru’s role in the forthcoming elections, UDA demanded that he resigns to focus on campaigning for Odinga, adding that his continued stay in office could compromise the independence of the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA), which provides the framework for electronic results transmission.

Maina noted that the authority provides the technical framework for the electoral commission to conduct digital registration, digital tallying, and relaying of results electronically.

“Of concern to us is the critical role the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology plays in supervising and overseeing the Communication Authority of Kenya. In this regard, assuming even that Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology had a role to play in facilitating the elections, his recent remarks compromises his neutrality and the office he holds,” UDA added.

Mucheru attended the unveiling of Martha Karua as Odinga’s running mate at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Monday.