IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati has warned the three commissioners who resigned earlier this week to stop attacking him saying their intentions are in bad taste.
The commissioners cited a lack of proper leadership by Chebukati as the main reason for their resignation.
They are former vice-chair Consolata Nkatha, Paul Kurgat and Margaret Mwachanya.
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"I am not only committed to IEBC but to Kenya at large and discrediting my name in the media
and that of the commission
is in bad taste," Chebukati said during a press briefing on Friday.
He said blaming him and two other commissioners who are still in office was insincere and misleading.
"They have no legal basis and the due pressure is unwarranted. It must cease forthwith. In the last one year we have been in office, we have been able to deliver on our mandate," Chebukati said.
He said he has
no personal vendetta against CEO Ezra Chiloba whom he sent on compulsory leave last week.
Chebukati said his actions were in the spirit of upholding accountability of public resources in the commission.
"The main issue is to have public
resources utilized
according to the law," he said.
The electoral
agency boss said the resigned commissioners are yet to formally communicate the decision to the commission.
"We only learned
from the media... In the first year since I was in the office
I have led the commission with professionalism
and dedication," he said.
Chebukati reiterated that the decision to suspend Chiloba was not a unilateral decision as claimed by the three commissioners.
"From the onset, the commission
reiterated that the matter is on financial audit and accountability. The
matter of great interest is how the money was spent
by the commission."
He said Chiloba still enjoys all benefits bestowed to his office but if found culpable
he will be
action.
"The ongoing
audit is an opportunity for the commission
to establish management
of public resources and it will inform the next cause of action," he said.
"If anybody feels that he has an issue with the IEBC the law is very clear on the removal of the commission. They are at liberty to take that route. The appointing authority will have to do that."
According to sources within the commission, the chairman wants a number of issues investigated while Chiloba is away.
Chebukati and Chiloba have not had a cordial working relationship since the CEO resumed work this year.
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Chiloba has since dismissed claims that he unprocedurally authorised the payment of Sh250 million for the supply of additional electronic voter identification devices used in the 2013 general election.
He said as the incoming CEO at that time, he only reviewed the invoices and established that there was adequate ground to pay Sh250 million for the devices during the 2014/15 financial year.
Former CEO James Oswago faulted Chiloba for paying the amount saying there was no contract to support the purchase of the devices.
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