Mombasa, 29 August, 2022 / 9:07 pm (ACI Africa).
The Archbishop of Mombasa Archdiocese in Kenya has challenged members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to bridge their differences and work together to conclude the electioneering period in the East African nation despite the disagreement between them.
“Try to work together to conclude this election. Work in harmony, produce the results,” Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde said on Sunday, August 28, referencing the gubernatorial, parliamentary, and ward elections that were to be held August 29 after being postponed during the August 9 general elections.
On August 15, IEBC chairman declared Deputy President, Dr. William Ruto, the winner of the tight Presidential election with 50.49% of the valid votes, against his main challenger, former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga’s 48.85%.
As Mr. Wafula Chebukati made the announcement, four of the seven IEBC Commissioners held a separate Press Conference, distancing themselves from the Presidential results. They said, “Because of the opaque nature on how this phase has been handled, we cannot take ownership of the results that is going to be announced”.
In his address following the celebration of Holy Mass at St. Patrick Catholic Parish of Mombasa Archdiocese on August 28, Archbishop Kivuva said that while Kenyans may not be privy to the cause of the discord between the IEBC Commissioners, they ought to remember “that they were given their responsibility by the people of Kenya”.
