IEBC Responds to Claims of Ruto Dissolving Parliament, Ordering Fresh Election
- IEBC dismissed as fake a viral memo claiming that the Supreme Court is reviewing parliament’s possible dissolution
- This came after President William Ruto recently accused MPs and senators of pocketing millions in bribes to influence legislation
- In a related development, a new anti-graft team formed by the president has already been halted by the High Court pending a legal challenge
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TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has more than three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
When a strange memo surfaced online suggesting Kenya was on the brink of fresh parliamentary elections, it sparked instant speculation.
Source: UGC
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) quickly moved to calm the storm, calling the document fake and urging Kenyans to avoid sharing misleading claims.
Has Ruto dissolved parliament?
The forged notice had alleged that if the Chief Justice approved a request for parliament’s dissolution, IEBC would organise fresh elections for all MPs instead of by-elections.
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"This directive would not amount to by-elections or recalls. It would constitute a fresh election for all parliamentary seats. The presidency and county governments would continue to operate without interruption," the fake notice read in part.
The commission clarified there were no such proceedings at the Supreme Court and dismissed the memo as fabricated.
The development comes amid heightened tension between President William Ruto and lawmakers.
Did Ruto accuse lawmakers of taking bribes?
Speaking earlier in the week, the president accused parliamentarians of taking bribes to push through certain bills.
He singled out Senate committee members, alleging that some pocketed up to KSh 150 million to sway a decision.
Without naming names, he warned that investigations would follow, remarking that in some cases MPs had received millions to pass the Anti-Money Laundering Bill.
"Some members of the House here received up to KSh 10 million to pass the Anti-Money Laundering Bill? Do you know that...They're collecting money in the name of parliament, and sometimes that money never gets to parliament. Instead, it ends up in the pockets of a few individuals," Ruto said.
These remarks rattled the Senate’s Public Accounts Committee, which demanded that the president appear before them with proof of his claims.
The allegations have added to the political friction already building between the executive and parliament.
In an effort to tighten the fight against corruption, Ruto announced the creation of the Multi-Agency Team on War Against Graft (MAT).
The body was to bring together officials from the National Intelligence Service, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
Source: AFP
Why did court stop Ruto's new anti-graft team?
However, the initiative stalled almost immediately. On Wednesday, the High Court judge Justice Bahati Mwamuye suspended the team's operations until the petitions filed by four activists are heard and determined.
This came after Nakuru-based surgeon Magare Gikenyi and three others filed a petition arguing that the president had acted beyond his constitutional authority.
The petitioners want the court to declare the new body unlawful and unconstitutional, setting the stage for another legal showdown between the presidency and civil society actors.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
