NAIROBI, Kenya Aug 17 – The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Wafula Chebukati has broken his silence on the divisions that emerged at the Commission after he declared the outcome of the presidential results on Monday.
In a tell it all statement, Chebukati noted that the four dissenting Commissioners who have disowned the outcome of the results were working to force a run-off in the election.
The Commission’sCommission’s Vice Chair Juliana Cherera and Commissioners Francis Wanderi, Justus Nyang’ayaNyang’aya, and Irene Masit accused Chebukati of conducting an “opaque process.”
“They demanded that the Chairperson moderates the results to force an election re-run contrary to their oath of office,” Chebukati said, adding, “this is tantamount to subverting the Constitution and the sovereign will of the People of Kenya.”
Chebukati noted that he refused to yield to what he described as “unconstitutional and illegal demands” of the four commissioners, who maintain that the result transmission phase was shrouded in secrecy.
The four Commissioners on Tuesday disclosed their reasons why they rejected the outcome of the results whose outcome saw William Ruto declared as the President-Elect.
Part of their reasons was that the results exceeded the 100 percent mark, but Chebukati responded by terming the allegations as “false and misleading.”
“We urge Kenyans to interact with these results and make an objective judgment,” Chebukati said.
Chebukati underscored that the August 9, 2022, General Election “is the most transparent election the Commission has ever held.”
Azimio La Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga who lost in the polls has since vowed that he would mount a legal challenge at the Supreme Court to challenge the results.
The Azimio team has until Monday to file their petition at the apex court, with Chebukati noting they will be ready to prove them wrong.
“The Commission shall have an opportunity to respond and demonstrate in further detail the circumstances under which the election was conducted, results verified, and outcome declared per the constitution and the law,’ he said.
