Four 'rebel' commissioners fault Chebukati for suspending polls

Chebukati suspended Kakamega, Mombasa elections indefinitely.

In Summary

•They added that the Chair has decided to work alone as opposed to working with his team, contrary to the Constitution and the IEBC Act.

• "We are deeply concerned that Chebukati has grossly misunderstood his Constitutional mandate as the Chairman of Commission and has continued to stray away from his responsibility as the Chair."

IEBC commissioners led by vice chair Juliana Cherera
IEBC commissioners led by vice chair Juliana Cherera
Image: Fredrick Omondi

The four IEBC Commissioners who fell out with the Commission's chair Wafula Chebukati have faulted him for suspending the five pending elections.

In a statement released on Friday, the four , vice chair Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Justus Nyang'aya and Irene Masit said Chebukati yet again left them out of decision-making and had learnt about the suspension through the media.

"It is unknown how this decision arrived and with whom the Chairman consulted as it came as a shock and was communicated without a sheer thread of consultation, meeting and/or agreement with the Commissioners of the Commission as required by the Act," the four said.

The Commissioners said Chebukati has caused a rift in the body with his continued unilateralism.

They added that the Chair has decided to work alone as opposed to working with his team, contrary to the Constitution and the IEBC Act.

"We are deeply concerned that Chebukati has grossly misunderstood his Constitutional mandate as the Chairman of Commission and has continued to stray away from his responsibility as the Chair."

The suspended elections include governor positions for Kakamega and Mombasa Counties, MP positions for Kitui Rural in Kitui County, Kalicheba, Pokot South (West Pokot) and Rongai in Nakuru.

Others include MCA in Nyaki West in North Imenti Constituency, Meru County and Kwa Njenga in Nairobi.

The polls were previously postponed from August 9 to23 due to errors in the ballot papers.

On Wednesday, Chebukati suspended the elections until further notice.

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