Trouble pile four dissenting IEBC commissioners as new termination motion lands in the Senate
Four dissenting Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners are still facing nightmares in the wake of another censure petition brought against them by President William Ruto’s supporters.
In a petition filed on Thursday to the Senate Clerk’s office, Nyandarua Senator John Methu wants IEBC vice-chairperson Juliana Cherera, commissioners Irene Masit, Francis Wanderi, and Justus Nyang’aya kicked out for allegedly seeking to thwart the will of voters on August 9.
“Their actions were expressions of impunity and concerted efforts to subvert the foreign will of the people through sabotage of the constitutional mandate of the commission to conduct free, fair, transparent and verifiable elections, which go against their official calling and the oaths of office they swore to undertake,” he stated in the petition.
The four commissioners had disowned the final election results announced by IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati referring them as ‘opaque’.
Methu stated that his move would require the four to step down before they could be held accountable for their activities that threatened to throw the country into disarray.
The motion also calls for the Supreme Court’s recommendations for the operation of the IEBC to be carried out by the Senate Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs, and Human Rights, which has not yet been established.
“I also urge the standing committee on justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights to study the Supreme Court ruling and introduce legislation that will seal existing loopholes in the electoral process, including the manner of appointment of future IEBC commissioners and enhance the statutory and regulatory framework on the separate policy and administrative remit of the IEBC,” he stated.
However, as such removals can only be carried out by the National Assembly, the resolution may not have much success in its drive to have Cherera, Masit, Wanderi, and Nyang’aya quit and be charged afterwards.
The petition awaits clearance to table it for House deliberation.
