Chebukati claim Cherera team wanted to illegally force a run-off
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati has accused the four commissioners who rejected the presidential results were working to force a re-run.
The four IEBC officers who rejected the results are Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Justus Nyang’aya and Irene Masit. Through a statement, Chebukati said after briefing the four on the results he was to announce, they asked him to moderate the results so that the country can have a repeat presidential election.
“During a briefing meeting held on 15th August 2022 at around 3.00 pm before the final declaration of the Presidential Election results, the four Commissioners demanded that the Chairperson moderates the results for purpose of forcing an election Re-run contrary to their oath of office,” Chebukati said.
Chebukati said this is tantamount to subverting the Constitution and the sovereign will of the People of Kenya. “The Chairperson refused to yield to this unconstitutional and illegal demand and proceeded to declare the results of the Presidential Election as received from the polling stations, and contained in Form 34A, in accordance with the law,” he said.
He said that he involved all commissioners including the four in all activities of verification and tallying. “Their duties were well defined in writing and allocated at the National Tally Center (NTC). They had access to all results beforehand and interchangeably announced them for six (6) days in the full glare of live television,” he said.
On Monday, the four commissioners issued a statement saying that they could not associate themselves with the results as the process was “opaque”.
They later on Tuesday issued another statement saying that the numbers were not adding up and accused Chebukati of running a one-man show.
