Members of a civil society group in Kitui have condemned the decision to replace Augustus Muli, leader of the National Liberal Party, as the Azimio representative on the IEBC selection panel. The coalition is advocating for Wiper’s Koki Muli to be included in the panel and is calling on Azimio principal Kalonzo Musyoka to halt the proposed change.
During a press conference in Kitui town on Friday, the group, led by Musili Kauta of the Centre for Progressive Leadership and Musembi Kitavi of the Kitui Peace Economic Front, opposed efforts to exclude Muli from the IEBC panel. They stressed that the decision made by the Parliamentary Parties Liaison Committee to appoint Muli as Azimio’s representative should be honored. They warned that any move to overturn this decision would undermine democracy.
“We are calling on all Kenyans to make noise so that Muli can assume his duties in the IEBC panel as a corrupt and inept selection committee translates to selection of corrupt IEBC commissioners,” Kitavi said.
He said such a scenario would not guarantee Kenya a credible 2027 general election.
“We want to condemn and oppose the action that caused a row in the Azimio selection of representatives in the IEBC selection panel,” Kauta said.
He stated that Muli received a significant number of votes to secure a position on the IEBC selection panel, but Wiper party and Azimio operatives conspired to have his name removed. Muli was appointed by the Political Parties Liaison Committee last week as the Azimio representative on the panel.
During the election, Muli defeated Wiper’s Koki by earning 16 votes compared to Koki’s seven. However, Azimio has rejected the election results. Azimio Secretary General Junet Mohamed has since written to the Parliamentary Service Commission, denouncing Muli’s election and advocating for his replacement with Koki.
Junet argues that the list of political party representatives for the IEBC selection panel lacks gender balance, as stipulated by the IEBC Amendment Act 2024. The PPLC nominated all male representatives: Evans Misati, the current chairperson; Nicodemus Bore for the majority party; and Muli for the majority party. Junet has requested the PSC to replace Muli with Koki to achieve gender balance.
In response, Muli has sought legal recourse, and a tribunal has temporarily prohibited the Parliamentary Service Commission from submitting the names of individuals nominated to the IEBC selection panel. The vice chairperson of the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal, Wilfred Mutubwa, has deemed Muli’s application urgent.
“In the interim, prayers number two and three of the application dated July 31 are hereby granted pending inter-parties hearing of the application,” the orders state. Feeling aggrieved by the attempt to remove him from the panel, Muli has filed a lawsuit against Azimio la Umoja, the Political Parties Liaison Committee, and the Secretary of the Parliamentary Service Commission.
