Natembeya Puts Azimio Politicians on the Spot for Skipping Chebukati's Send-off: "There's Hate"
- Governor George Natembeya wants a change in the constitution of the IEBC, which he observed sparks the political intolerance in the country
- The Trans Nzoia county boss observed that the bigwigs from the opposition snubbed Chebukati's send-off due to bad blood emanating from elections
- Chebukati's final journey was graced by President William Ruto and other leaning politicians, and ranking government officials
Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya has observed that elections in Kenya act like a breeding ground for hatred.
Source: Twitter
Natembeya realised his discovery after noting that none of the luminaries from the opposition attended the send-off of former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati.
Led by President William Ruto, national leaders joined mourners in Sabata, Kiminini constituency, to pay their last respects to Chebukati.
Why didn't Azimio politicians grace Chebukati's sendoff?
While addressing the mourners, Natembeya suggested that the absence of the opposition bigwigs was due to their bad blood with Chebukati, mainly emanating from elections.
Natembeya said that the deceased, while undertaking his official duties, created enemies with those who did not approve of his declarations in the elections.
"If truth must be said, our elections are very divisive. When Samuel Kivuitu died, the harsh criticism he got was the same as what Chebukati got. What is this that we are not getting right? When you check around, there is no one from Azimio. As we lay him to rest, no one from the opposition attended his funeral. The elections drive hate into us," he said.
The county boss called for the president's intervention to harmonise the formation of the electoral body, which he argued had become the main spark of political intolerance in the country.
He suggested a balance in the reconstitution of the electoral agency to ease the tension when elections come.
Natembeya observed that the hatred by a considerable section of Kenyans toward the IEBC officials would not end with Chebukati, as his predecessors would encounter the same challenges if the contentious issues during the hiring of the commissioners and other officials are not solved.
"Even now, when we are putting in a new IEBC, Mr President, you are the captain of this country. What lessons do we learn as a country, or we are just passing through the emotions? Even recently, when the IEBC selection panel was being put in place, there were so many interests, and I know that even after the new commissioners are selected, there will still be those who are not satisfied, and then we will expect the country to accept the election results. Can't we find a better way to handle this?" Natembeya posed.
Source: Twitter
The governor, while berating those who castigated Chebukati even in his death, asked the country to remember Chebukati not because of the election drama but for his reslience and service to the country.
How Ruto honoured Chebukati
Meanwhile, Ruto eulogised Chebukati as an assertive public official who surmounted pressure and blackmail to deliver on his constitutional duties.
The president appreciated his bravery in the face of political and legal adversities while undertaking his mandate; he recalled events at the Bomas of Kenya, where the delays in the declaration of the presidential election caused tension in the country.
In recognition and honour of Chebukati, the president declared that Sabata Secondary School would be renamed after him.
He promised to build 15 new classrooms and an ICT centre to give the school a new look and would then be renamed "Wafula Chebukati Centre of Excellence".
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
