NASA Urges Supporters to Reject IEBC Jobs

The opposition is rallying their supporters to reject Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) jobs ahead of next week’s repeat presidential elections.

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party chairman John Mbadi and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed said that Nasa has advised their supporters not to take the presiding officers, deputies and clerks jobs by the electoral commission.

“We are telling our people that when IEBC comes to recruit you as presiding officers or clerks, do not take up the jobs. They are part of the ‘No Elections’ brigade. There might be no staff to conduct elections,” Junet said.

This comes even as training workshops organised by the electoral commission in Nyanza region were disrupted by opposition supporters on Monday and Tuesday.

“Our people should stay away. Whether as voters, election officials or suppliers of any service to the IEBC,” Mbadi said.

“We are appealing to our supporters wherever they are to dissociate themselves completely from IEBC process and decline appointments as officers of IEBC in various stations.”ODM director of political affairs Opiyo Wandayi said.

On Tuesday, IEBC training sessions in Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay and Migori counties were cancelled after rowdy mobs threatened to attack the electoral officials.

Siaya County Returning Officer Ruth Kulundu said the commission suspended the training due to harsh environment created by locals, who support the opposition coalition.

“We were forced to suspend the training of presiding officers and their deputies in four constituencies after locals interrupted the sessions, forcing us to send away the participants,” Kulundu said.

In Kusumu, Awasi/Onjiko MCA Otieno Ngeta vowed that the training of temporary IEBC officials in the county would not go on until the electoral commission meets demands by Nasa.

“I want to thank the residents for standing with our leader Raila Odinga and pushing for reforms in the electoral commission,” he said.