IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati has suspended CEO Ezra Chiloba.
It is understood that the chairman and three other commissioners asked Chiloba to go home “because of procurement issues”. It was not immediately clear yesterday what the issues are, although Chebukati has previously raised questions regarding a number of technology-related procurements.
According to sources within the commission, Chebukati wants a number of issues investigated while Chiloba is away.
By 7 pm last evening, Chiloba had not returned a call to the Star as promised.
The effect of the move is to destabilise the commission, which is to conduct vital boundaries delineation with implications for the next election. It makes work difficult or impossible because the CEO by law makes the day-to-day decisions; other commissioners cannot. It creates fear in the commission that others may be targetted.
Chebukati and Chiloba have not had a cordial working relationship since the CEO resumed work this year.
The Opposition has demanded Chiloba’s removal, saying he rigged the bungled August 8 election, in which Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the winner.
It said he could not be trusted to oversee the October 26 presidential rerun.