Amani National Congress party leader Musalia has differed with president Uhuru Kenyatta’s statements that his hands are tied as far as the issues surrounding the IEBC is concerned.
Speaking to journalists at the Tom Mboya Labor College in Kisumu, Mudavadi said that the president’s statements were sarcastic on a matter he termed very serious bearing in mind that IEBC is a national institution and the integrity of that institution is key in strengthening democracy in the country.
“The topic around IEBC is very serious because this is a national institution and the integrity of that institution is key in strengthening democracy in this country and therefore when the president says that his hands are tied, I think he was being sarcastic in my view,” said Mudavadi.
Mudavadi pointed out that nobody among the agitators is asking for dissolution of IEBC away from the law but are instead calling for dialogue on the way forward in reconstituting the commission.
He further noted that it is dangerous for the president to release such statements on a matter that is sensitive that might lead to a crisis that may lead to bloodshed hence wondering what the head of state will say at such a time of crisis.
The politician noted that the confidence levels of IEBC are extremely low and therefore it is fair if the president led a dialogue to involve all stakeholders on the best way to address the challenge that has seen opposition leaders lead weekly protests at IEBC offices every Monday.
He said that the president should show good will and embrace dialogue as provided in the constitution despite the fact that the same constitution allows Kenyans to demonstrate and picket on issues that they are not satisfied with.
Mudavadi said that his ANC party supports dialogue which he said is important and the sooner it happens the better for everybody and thus the president has an opportunity to lead the process.
Mudavadi who vied for the presidency and emerged third in the March 2013 polls said that the country should move from the hard line positions and embrace dialogue that is the desire for majority Kenyans including churches, trade unions such as COTU among others.
“We are telling him that there is no other way, dialogue is important and I am sure that somewhere along the line he is going to come to the reality that dialogue is the way to go and we are running out of time we should have that dialogue and we are going to advocate that dialogue must be held,” added the leader who was accompanied by other leaders from Nyanza and Western after attending the COTU elections.
Mudavadi emphasized the essence of dialogue basing on what other leaders and institutions that are calling for dialogue including COTU, churches among others which he said are not street agencies that can be overlooked by the president.
The leader further pointed out that if reason fails to prevail as it is going on then the country is likely to face chaos and thus it is time for reason to prevail as far as the matter is concerned.