NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 29 – Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Leader Raila Odinga has termed the tribunal investigating Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Commissioner Irene Masit as a mere charade.
This is after he revealed that the tribunal’s chairman Justice Aggrey Muchelule, former IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati and National Assembly speaker Moses Wetang’ula are in-laws.
“Muchelule and Chebukati are brothers in law because their wives are sisters. Even Wetangula married from the same home,” he stated.
“One of them stole elections, the other is the National Assembly Speaker and the one is the Chair of the tribunal. I told Masit she is a sheep in a court full of wolves,” Odinga said.
He was speaking during the Jacaranda rally where he castigated the electoral body for allegedly overturning the will of the people.
Muchelule-led tribunal was tasked to probe the conduct of four IEBC commissioners. Former vice chair Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi and Justus Nyangaya resigned before the commencement of the proceedings.
Only Commissioner Masit has so far been investigated by the tribunal.
The tribunal wrapped up the hearing of witness testimonies on January 24 after Commissioner Masit’s lawyer Donald Kipkorir indicated that his client did not wish to present any witness.
The tribunal has slated February 9 as the date for resumption of its proceedings.
“We will leave it where the lead prosecutor has left it. We do not wish to present any witnesses,” Korir told the panel.
In a ruling delivered at the end of the cross-examination of the immediate former IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati, Justice Muchelule said parties will proceed to file written submissions ahead February 9 when the tribunal will allow them time to make oral highlights.
“We have agreed on timelines for filing all submissions so that we meet on February 9,” he said.
Muchelule said the tribunal’s lead counsel Peter Munge was given until Thursday to file his written submissions after which Masit’s lawyer will have fourteen days to file.
During its two-day hearing which commenced on January 23, the tribunal also heard from retired IEBC Commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu.
Guliye and Molu, both of whom retired alongside Chebukati on January 17, backed the former Chairperson’s account suggesting a plot to manipulate election results.
They said a faction led by then IEBC Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera suggested moderation of election results to deny President William Ruto a win and declare Azimio’s Raila Odinga the winner.
