How a Nigerian born motivational speaker has become key to saving Kenya's electoral commission

david nganga

October 18, 2017 5:50 PM

Wakinyemi has played a key role in trying to prevent a fallout among the IEBC commissioners.

Behind the widening rift that has rocked Kenya's electoral commission for the past few weeks is a Nigerian motivational speaker who has played a key role in trying to prevent a fallout among the commissioners ahead of the Oct 26 repeat election.

Dr. Wale Akinyemi was drafted in by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati in early September when the commission retreated to Naivasha County to solve its in-house tension and has seemingly become an important figure at least for Chebukati.

Akinyemi styles himself as a business strategist, consultant,author, inspirational speaker and newspaper columnist.

He heads an organisation called PowerTalks Corporate and Personal Development Consultants and has authored books like The Billionaire Within, Why Do Some Dream of Success, Creative Thinking and Help! My Chocolate Is Melting.

It is this background perhaps that has convinced the powers that be at the IEBC that he has the skills to solve their rifts as he has become a quite visible figure at public events of the commission.

It is interesting that a day after the resignation of Dr.Rose Akombe and her subsequent casting of doubt on the ability of the commission to organise a credible election, Dr.Akinyemi was once again by the side of Chebukati as he read a nine page speech to re-assert his authority.

david nganga