Four petitions seeking the removal of the four Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners who disowned the August 9 presidential election results have been presented to the National Assembly.
The petitions want the removal of IEBC vice chairperson Juliana Cherera, and commissioners Francis Wanderi, Justus Nyang’aya and Irene Masit who disowned the results announced by the commission’s chairperson, Wafula Chebukati declaring President William Ruto as president-elect.
The four petitions were presented by the Republican Party, Dennis Ndwiga Nthumbi, Geoffrey Lang’at and Steve Owuor accusing the four commissioners of violating the Constitution by disowning the results.
The Republican Party accuses the four of failing to meet the integrity threshold of the office they hold and brought dishonor and indignity to the nation, contrary to article 71 of the Constitution.
The petitioner also says the four acted in a manner that demeans the office they hold contrary to article 75 of the Constitution.
“They should take personal responsibility for the reasonably foreseeable consequences of any actions or omissions arising from the discharge of the duties of the office,” the Republican Party petition reads in part.
Nthumbi on his part said the four commissioners demonstrated partiality and biased conduct in agreeing in a proposal to alter the results in favour of one candidate or to force a runoff which were also against the Constitution.
Lang’at and Owuor also make the same allegations against the four commissioners claiming that their rejection of the presidential results threatened the peace of the country.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula told the committee to accord the commissioners the right to appear in person or be represented by a lawyer.
He also granted the commissioners the right to be cross examined under oath over all matters related to the petition.
“The work of the committee is to guide the House by way of a comprehensive report on whether the petitions satisfy the conditions set for the removal of one or all the cited members of an independent commission,” he said.
The four commissioners will know their fate in 14 days when a parliamentary committee will present a report on whether Parliament will ask the President to form a tribunal to look into whether they should be removed from office.
