Azimio: Junet did not squander poll agents cash
Azimio la Umoja coalition has absolved Suna East lawmaker Junet Mohammed from claims he embezzled funds meant to pay its agents during the August 9, 2022 polls.
A statement signed by spokesperson Makau Mutua also clarified that the lawmaker did not handle money meant for agents.
“I want to address one particular issue that has been misunderstood and is being used maliciously,” explained Mutua.
“This is the matter of the recruitment and management of agents. The issue was managed by a dedicated and hardworking team. Our view is that our staff did a largely successful job in a challenging environment.”
Mutua also stressed that the coalition presidential flagbearer Raila Odinga did not lose the polls because of a lack of agents.
“I have seen scurrilous attacks on Hon Junet Mohammed accusing him of misappropriating funds meant for agents. Let me state without equivocation that Mr Mohammed was a campaign lead in the field supporting Mr Odinga. He at no time- even once- handled funds meant for the agents. Nor did Mr Mohammed have anything to do with the management of agents,.”
He asked those who were speaking about Mr Mohammed and saying that he had misused money meant to cater for the agents should seize.
Prof Mutua said that the coalition understood that a number of people were disappointed about how the election was conducted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the decision that was made by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court in a ruling upheld Dr William Ruto’s win saying that IEBC conducted a free and fair election.
Mr Odinga had moved to court to challenge Mr Ruto’s win arguing that IEBC did not hold the election in a fair manner and that the chairman Mr Wafula Chebukati assisted in increasing the President Elect’s votes.
The coalition asked its members to focus and concentrate on how they will safeguard the constitution and democracy in the country.