Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati has addressed his fallout with four of his commissioners.
In a statement on Wednesday evening, August 17, he said Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera and three commissioners; Francis Wanderi, Justus Nyang’aya and Irene Masit wanted to force a presidential election run-off.
Chebukati said the four demanded him to moderate the results and force a run-off which is against their oath of office.
“During a briefing meeting held on 15th August 2022 at around 3.00 pm before the final declaration of the Presidential Election results, the four Commissioners demanded that the Chairperson moderates the results for purpose of forcing an election Re-run contrary to their oath of office,” the IEBC Chairman wrote.
Chebukati noted that the move is tantamount to subverting the Constitution and the will of the People of Kenya.
“The Chairperson refused to yield to this unconstitutional and illegal demand and proceeded to declare the results of the Presidential Election as received from the polling stations, and contained in Form 34A, in accordance with the law,” he added.
On announcing the results with the four commissioners in absentia, Chebukati defended himself stating that he was executed his mandate as the National Returning Officer.
“Their duties were well defined in writing and allocated at the National Tally Center (NTC). They had access to all results beforehand and interchangeably announced them for six (6) days in the full glare of live television,” Chebukati said.
The IEBC Chairman concluded by stating that the 2022 election was the most transparent since all the Form 34As were uploaded in real-time and made available in the public portal.
“The Commission also allowed media, observers, candidates and the general public to have access and tally the results announced at the polling stations
“If any of the parties elects to file a petition, it is within their constitutional right and the Commission shall have an opportunity to respond and demonstrate in further detail the circumstances under which the election was conducted, the results verified and outcome declared in accordance with the constitution and the law,” Chebukati noted.
Press Release – Staff Murder, Profiling and Misleading Reports on Presidential Electionhttps://t.co/vEMNIf7iEF#KenyaDecides2022 #GE2022 #KenyanElection2022 pic.twitter.com/ZB5mdo9Al1
— IEBC (@IEBCKenya) August 17, 2022
The four commissioners led by Cherera maintained that they could not take ownership of the election results.
They argued that the final process of verification of the result was not transparent hence their resistance.
“We are not at the Bomas of Kenya because we cannot take ownership of the results that are going to be announced because of the opaque nature which these results have been handled,” Cherera stated.
READ ALSO: IEBC Split: Cherera Address Viral Photos With Joho, Raila
She, however, stated that the IEBC conducted an election that was free, fair and verifiable except for the final process.
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