Iebc chairman Wafula Chebukati.He has defended its close working relationship with the interior ministry saying it is aimed at overseeing peaceful elections in volatile areas in the country. Photo/werutv.comThe Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has dismissed claims that it is taking instructions from Interior CS Fred Matiangi on how to conduct the August 8 polls.
Speaking to Radio Citizen Friday,the agency's commissioner Roselyn Akombe said that as much as they were an independent institution they had to work with other state organs especially on matters security in the run up to the polls in a bid to ensure that the process remains peaceful.Akombe said such a move was informed by the need to ensure everyone is guaranted security during voting and dismissed assertions by the opposition that the same amounted to mischief."Yes we are independent but there are areas that we feel may experience conflicts in the run up to the polls such as Baringo and Lamu counties.As such we must liaise with somebody who will help us in ensuring a successful and peaceful process in such areas and that is why the security ministry is vital," she said.Nasa presidential candidate Raila Odinga had earlier claimed that Matiangi was summoning the poll officials to his office and giving them instructions on how to go about the elections a move he said was aimed at helping the Jubilee government rig elections.