Suspended commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) who doubles as the poll agency vice chairperson Juliana Whonge Cherera has resigned days after President William Ruto suspended her and three other commissioners.
Cherera bowed to pressure to force them out of office before the tribunal established by the president begins hearings.
Cherera, is the second commissioner to hand in her resignation after Justus Nyang’aya decided to vacate his post last week Friday.
In a Special Gazette Notice Number 258, President Ruto said that: “The mandate of the tribunal shall be to consider the petition for the removal of (1) Juliana Whonge Cherera, (2) Francis Mathenge Wanderi, (3) Irene Cherop Masit and (4) Justus Abonyo Nyang’aya from office as members of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and to inquire into the allegations therein.”
In her letter of resignation, Cherera said that her “stay at the commission is no longer tenable.”
“It is with immense woe that today I tender my resignation as commissioner and vice chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).” Cherera has through a correspondence addressed to the president through the Head of Public Service.
“Since joining the commission, I have dispensed my duties diligently, meticulously and put a spirited effort in helping the commission deal with corporate governance issues under very difficult circumstances…,” she said.
“However my cumulative actions done in good faith are unfortunately misjudged and misinterpreted. After careful consideration of the current events at the commission and with my family and lawyers, I accept that my stay at the commission is no longer tenable and therefore choose to vacate.”
She ended by thanking the president for the opportunity “to serve the republic”.
The president also announced the formation of a tribunal whose mandate will be to consider the petition for the removal of the four IEBC commissioners.
It is not clear whether Francis Mathenge Wanderi and Irene Cherop Masit will also exit the commission or they will opt to face the tribunal.
