Any attack on the Judiciary is an attack on Kenyans, Thirdway Alliance party leader Ekuro Aukot has said, noting top IEBC bosses must quit.
Aukot dismissed as a sideshow, Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu's petition for Chief Justice David Maraga to leave office over gross misconduct claims.
Jubilee Party, whose leader is President Uhuru Kenyatta, has distanced itself from the petition through secretary general Raphael Tuju and legislators Aden Duale and Kipchumba MUrkomen.
But Aukot said: "It is a fallacy that a party which benefited in 2013 supreme Court ruling should claim the judiciary did wrong in the 2017 ruling.
"Jubilee, through its people, should stop sideshows. The latest petition is ill-intended and aimed at intimidating the judiciary."
Majority leader Duale (Garissa Town MP) and his Senate counterpart Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet) said there were no instructions from Jubilee leaders.
Their statements have been termed pressure for Wambugu to drop the petition.
Like Tuju and government spokesman Eric Kiraithe, Duale said the MP's position is not the party's.
"I want to categorically state that that is not the decision of Jubilee Party within its structures. It his within his democratic rights."
Kiraithe said Maraga should have thick skin and that comments on the verdict are not criminal.
More on this: Duale, Murkomen pile pressure for Ngunjiri to drop Maraga petition
Also read: Maraga has 'shock absorbers' for attacks, should remain focused - Kiraithe
'CHEBUKATI, CHILOBA MUST QUIT'
Aukot said the electoral agency's top bosses must quit for Kenya to have a free and fair repeat election on October 17.
"We are of the opinion that officials at IEBC must exit so we can restore the trust of the people," he said.
The politician asked IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati to lead commissioners in leaving office.
"Chebukati must quit because he committed irregularities according to the courts. There is no way we can go to another election with Chebukati at the helm."
"IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba and the rest should also quit. They must show respect for the country and allow necessary investigations."
Aukot noted he respects the independence of the IEBC but that their conduct in the last election was questionable.
"We are dissatisfied with their conduct. Public trust and confidence have been lost. We remain cognizant of the [poorly management of the election]."
The politician who was in the August 8 presidential race further noted they are not interested in disbanding the commission.
"We just want the bad elements to leave. IEBC must explain the issues," he said.
Read: KIEMS review, Chiloba out: NASA gives IEBC list of demands for poll
After the Supreme Court ruling that nullified Uhuru's victory after the August national election, the Opposition demanded changes at IEBC saying this is the only way they will take part in the re-run.
NASA demanded that Chiloba resign over a "sham election" and warned they will not return to the ballot with him overseeing the process.
Presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his team also want the commission to restructure and ensure the election is fair.
The EU Observer Mission said investigations must be carried out and reforms made before the repeat election ordered by the Supreme Court.
More on poll: Spot checks show confusion, not rigging in Kenyan election - EU
Also read: Reform election processes before October vote, EU observers tell IEBC
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