After six years of service, curtains are almost coming down at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
On Wednesday, the IEBC staff held a farewell party for the commission’s chairman Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye.
They will leave the commission after their term ends on January 17.
Molu expressed his gratitude to the staff and IEBC for the time he has served at the commission.
“Long journey of six years at IEBC is about to end. Looking forward to a happy exit in the next few days. Thanks to our staff for this wonderful farewell,” he said.
Former retired President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed the trio in January 2017 alongside four others who resigned after the 2017 General Elections.
In 2021, Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Irene Masit and Justus Nyang'aya were appointed to replace those who left after 2017.
In October 2022, President William Ruto declared vacancies at the Commission as Chebukati and two commissioners prepared to exit, in a move that was set to put in motion the recruitment of the commissioners to join the then Vice-Chairperson Cherera and commissioners Masit, Wanderi and Nyang’aya. -
“The tenure of the chairperson and two members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is set to lapse on January 17, 2023, having been appointed on January 18, 2017, vide Gazette Notices 399 and 400 of 2017,” read the notice.
The three commissioners were the only ones left standing after three others resigned last month pending the tribunal while Irene Masit remained to await the tribunal hearings.
Four petitions were filed before the National Assembly seeking to oust the ‘Cherera four’ who disowned the results of the August 9 presidential polls.
This led to President Ruto's formation of a tribunal to remove the quartet from office.
The tribunal is required to expeditiously conclude its hearings and report its findings which are binding with the President expected to act on them within 30 days.
Next week on Monday, Chebukati is set to release the post-election evaluation report on the August 9, 2022, General Election.
He will be releasing the report just a day before he leaves the office.
