Gor Mahia electoral board named
The electoral board that will oversee the December 11 elections has been named.
Information courtesy of the Standard
Gor Mahia has appointed Patrick Lumumba Adera, an Assistant Inspector General of Police to head its new electoral board.
With only a week to club elections, Ambrose Rachier (pictured), the Gor chairman announced that following the resignation of retired Justice Nicholas Ombija and two other members of the electoral board, there was need to reconstitute the a new body.
Ombija and two other memebrs of the board resigned after there were concerns from all sides about handling of the whole voters verification proces and claims of threats directed to the board memebrs.
Through a press release to newsrooms, Rachier stated that the move was to guarantee a credible and peaceful electoral process within the club.
“Mr. Lumumba, who will chair the board, is an Assistant Inspector General of Police and a respectable police officer who brings with him a wealth of experience in security management and public office administration,” the letter read in part.
At the same time, Rachier confirmed exclusively to FeverPitch that the Kenya Police Service was already investigating allegations of threat to Ombija and his team.
“As an advocate of the High Court of Kenya, I am determined to up hold the rule of law and at the same time ensure that club affairs remain above board,” said Rachier.
The new Electoral Board 1. Chairman – Patrick Lumumba Adera 2. Vice Chairman – Ahmed Ibrahim 3. Secretary – Kennedy Mbara 4. Treasurer – Gichu Wahome.
At least Patrick Lumumba Adera can deal with hooliganism. There will be hooligan that can threaten electoral chair with death as the culprits can be easily nabbed.
Police Service Act 2011.Refer to section.71-Police Officer prohibited from taking other employment.Not doubting Mr. Lumumba’s competency has a cop I pose the following questions on his appointment as chair of GMFC’s electoral board,apart from s.71 conditions, 1)is he on leave (or retired) since the election date is near 11DEC2016.If not won’t this coz a conflict of interest with his full job as a police officer 2) Given the short period involved how can he independently verify that the process undertaken so far is credible and what steps will he undertake to ensure that the remaining steps are above board 3)Can he guarantee that he will not use his position to intimidate those raising queries, appeals and how does he intend to deal with these.
Is managing Gor elections now termed as employment? It’s time we looked at the bigger picture and closed this chapter of elections. We have been made to think that only lawyers can do somethings yet IEBC and EACC are suffering credibility issues.