Azimio MPs hit out at Chebukati over IEBC staffer’s interdiction
A section of MPs allied to the Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition has protested the alleged interdiction of Ruth Kulundu, the IEBC Deputy Commission Secretary of Operations.
Kulundu is said to have been suspended for allegedly aiding the operations of four commissioners of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEBC), who disputed the presidential results announced by the electoral body chairperson Wafula Chebukati.
Speaking to members of the press during the ongoing MPs' induction at Safari Park, the legislators led by Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi called for the reinstatement of Kulundu within the next 48 hours.
MPs warn IEBC boss
While warning of unspecified action, the MPs accused Chebukati, commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu of acting in total disregard of the law and harassing IEBC staffers.
“We are aware that Chebukati and his two fellow Commissioners have embarked on what we could refer to as immature boundary delimitation, a few days before they proceed to their terminal leaves, so the question we are asking is what's the hype?" Wandayi said.
Wandayi, who has been fronted for the National Assembly Majority Leader role by Azimio, was flanked by Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris and nominated MP Sabina Chege.
IEBC Vice-Chair Juliana Cherera and commissioners Francis Wanderi, Justus Nyang’aya and Irene Masit last month accused Chebukati of conducting the tallying of the presidential election results in an opaque manner and questioned the final results as declared by the IEBC chair.
“We have done the 2022 general elections in the most effective and efficient manner and ensured all the challenges have been contained but some things need to be put out there,” Cherera, who was flanked by the three commissioners, said at a press conference held at Serena Hotel.
“We are rejecting the results the Chairman is about to announce at the Bomas of Kenya due to the opaqueness of the process during the final phase."
They later swore affidavits at the Supreme Court reiterating their position that the final results, as read out by Chebukati, were inaccurate.
The Supreme Court, however, on September 5, upheld the election of President William Ruto, saying he was validly elected.
While dismissing the case filed by Azimio leader Raila Odinga, a seven-judge bench termed the commissioners' walk out of the national tallying centre at Bomas of Kenya as an "afterthought".
