Ex-UN top aide returns to boost Raila’s presidential bid as IEBC plays Devil’s Advocate
The Kenyan-born former UN operative has been living in USA.
___6836196___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___6836196___2017___6___14___14___Salim+Lone
Recommended articles
Salim Lone, a Kenyan-born former UN operative who resides in the USA, is expected to join the ODM leader's campaign team as an adviser to assist in Nasa’s National Super Alliance's communication strategy.
Lone's return comes just a week after Mr Odinga unveiled a 15-member campaign team, led by former Cabinet minister Musalia Mudavadi.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mudavadi, the Amani National Congress (ANC) leader is deputised by Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama and Olga Karani.
Lone served as ODM director of communications and Raila’s spokesman after and during the 2007 elections.
During the 2010 referendum campaign for the new Constitution, Mr Lone was also appointed co-chair with former Trade minister Mukhisa Kituyi of the government-led Yes campaign team.
Lone expressed his delight and pleasure to once again link up with his former boss who is taking a fourth stab at the presidency.
"I need hardly say how thrilled I am to be returning home to participate in this momentous occasion and challenge for our nation.
ADVERTISEMENT
I want to thank in particular all those FB friends who for months have been asking why I was not there helping the Kenyan cause," Lone posted on his Facebook page.
Is IEBC playing the Devil's Advocate?
The opposition leader took full advantage of the absence of President Uhuru Kenyatta during the national elections conference at the KICC hosted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to expose all the problems the Nasa team had with the commission.
On Tuesday, in the presence of high profile dignitaries who included the Chief Justice David Maraga and the US Ambassador Robert Godec, Raila laid bare what he claimed as mischief by the IEBC in cahoots with senior Jubilee officials to ensure results are tilted towards Kenyatta in the August polls.
Raila claimed that the owners of the Dubai-based firm which was awarded (according to him controversially) the Sh2.5 billion tender to print IEBC ballot papers for the August elections, were close to Jubilee administration’s top officials.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Kenyans, have been cheated to believe that the process has been taking place in recent months. We have information that the firm has been in contact with senior Jubilee officials and owners of the firm hosted them in Dubai last year,” Raila said.
Raila's claims later on Wednesday led the IEBC to announce that it will invite key stakeholders to accompany its officials to Dubai to confirm the progress of printing ballot papers for the August elections in a move aimed to allay any fears of electoral malpructices.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: news@pulselive.co.ke
Next story
