Former Westlands Member of Parliament (MP) Fred Gumo has absolved outgoing Busia Senator Amos Wako from bribery allegations levelled against him.
Gumo defended Wako in an early Tuesday morning press interview at Kenya News Agency (KNA) offices in Kitale town.
“I am personally shocked by allegations by the IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati in which he has claimed former Attorney General Amos Wako led a team to the Bomas of Kenya at 3 am of the said date whose main agenda was to bribe him,” remarked Gumo.
According to Gumo, he was in company of Wako on the said date and time at the Bomas of Kenya, which was the designated tallying centre for presidential votes following the August 9 General Elections.
“We were part of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya leadership that was keenly following the proceedings at the Bomas,” said Gumo.
Absolving Wako from the bribery claims, the former legislator wondered how Wako and team could have sneaked Sh.400 million to the highly guarded venue.
“Besides IEBC commissioners and staff present, Bomas was awash with fully armed security agents and members of the public who were keeping vigil. How did Wako pass through with loads and loads of cash without raising the alarm?” wondered Gumo who now accuses Chebukati of character defamation.
“It is shameful for the IEBC chairperson to intentionally malign Wako who had a sterling career as the country’s long serving Attorney General and recently as the Senator for Busia County,” added Gumo.
The retired vocal politician now wants the Department of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to ensure Chebukati has been compelled to produce tangible evidence to substantiate the bribery claim.
He further accused Chebukati of what he termed as blatant mishandling of the presidential vote tallying process.
“The announced presidential results standoff should not have ended at the apex Court had Chebukati faithfully led the tallying process,” claimed Gumo.
Commenting on the just concluded by-elections, the seasoned politician thanked voters in Kakamega and Mombasa counties for handing Azimio gubernatorial candidates victory.
“Despite intentional postponement, which was aimed at giving our competitors some advantage, results from Mombasa and Kakamega are a clear manifestation that the coast and western regions are Azimio’s strongholds,” observed Gumo.
