Gatundu MP Moses Kuria has told off Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) proponents for intimidating Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission with sustained political insinuations over slow pace of verification of signatures.
The Tangatanga allied MP said the commission deserves respect and support as it prepares to give the country credible general elections next year.
Kuria said statements by BBI secretariat co-chairperson Junet Muhammed that IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati and other officials are part of a scheme that is sabotaging the constitutional amendment process were baseless and only meant to intimidate the commission.
He said as Tangatanga, they will not sit back and watch IEBC being intimidated.
“IEBC should have the freedom to dispense their mandate without fear. We need to support it. It’s a property of all Kenyans and we won’t allow it to be intimidated. Let them verify BBI signatures and continue with their mandate without questions. We have been very quiet, very patient with BBI proponents who are intimidating them,” said Kuria.
The MP was speaking Thursday at Wamwangi shopping centre during public participation exercise to allow for the construction of 6-kilometer Wamwangi-Mukinyi road at a cost of Sh.250 million.
This week, the Suna East MP questioned the slow pace at which BBI signatures are being verified saying it would derail efforts to hold a referendum within timelines.
The MP at the same time lashed at those attacking Senate Chief Whip Irungu Kang’ata and threatening to remove him from the position over a letter he wrote to President Uhuru Kenyatta dispelling popularity of BBI in the Mount Kenya region, saying it amounted to dictatorial tendencies.
He said Kang’ata presented the views of the majority of people in central Kenya and rather than intimidating him with impeachments they should conduct their own survey.
“This has been the problem in Jubilee Party. There are those who feel that they own it and will intimidate those seen to have divergent voices. What crime has Kang’ata committed? Instead of listening to him, now they want to expel him from the position,” he said advising Kangata that such positions are not a matter of life and death.
“We have been removed from parliamentary committees but still we have been surviving,” he added.
By Muoki Charles
