The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party's suspicions about the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) ahead of the Kibra mini poll are tactical, political commentator Dennis Anyonka has said.
The party last week threatened to storm IEBC offices in Nairobi to demand the voter register set to be used in the Kibra by-election, claiming the commission was plotting to rig it's candidate out.
And though the stalemate appears to have since been ironed out, the analyst said the same could be the party's tactic to galvanize its supporters and cause tension.
"This is about raising tension so that you can galvanize your supporters to make them note the shortcomings in the commission. (Hii ni kuraise tension so that you galvanize supporters ndio waone IEBC iko na shida)," he said.
He made the remarks on Radio Maisha's Bunge La Maisha on Monday morning, where he noted that though IEBC indeed has issues, the same politicians blaming it should share the blame.
He wondered how the politicians have condoned the commission until now, after the questions that have been raised about it previously, and the resignation of four commissioners.
He also pointed out that the party only came out to make the allegations after letting it hold the previous by-elections, which makes the allegations questionable.
"IEBC has always had issues but the politicians have let it continue operating. They should unite and clean it up. (IEBC imekuwa na shida lakini wanasiasa wamewacha indelee na kazi, wanasiasa wakuje pamoja waisafishe)," he added.