Deputy President William Ruto has asked the opposition to stop politicizing the choice of the new IEBC electoral commissioners.
The DP wants the opposition and other individuals to stop looking at the commissioners from a tribal perspective, and should instead look at their qualifications and credentials.
The choice of Wafula Chebukati to head the IEBC ahead of the general election has particularly raised questions and a general public scrutiny, owing to the fact that he hails from the same area as IEBC CEO Ezra Cheloba.
“Hawa watu hawakupatiwa hiyo position sababu ya kutoka Western. Walipatiwa because they are professionals. (These people did not get the nominations because they come from Western, but rather because they are proessionals),” said Ruto.
“We must be democrats, that once a process that is above board, that is legal, that is constitutional, we must accept the result of that process,” added Ruto.
Further questions have been raised on the nomination of Chebukati, after it emerged that he scored less points compared to other nominees during the interviewing process, with many questioning his nomination.
Roslyn Odede is said to have topped the interviews, followed by Tukero Ole Kina of the High Court, with Chebukati said to have come a distant eighth.
The president has already forwarded to parliament the name of Chebukati and other six nominees for IEBC’s top jobs.
Parliament has also been urged to vet the nominees thoroughly, with Chebukati having respresented Phillip Kinisu, who was largely mentioned in the NYS scam where billions of shillings were lost.
Ruto was meeting a delegation of leaders from Kakamega County at his home in Uasin Gishu.