News

‘Honourable thing for ‘Cherera four’ is to resign’ – Mutahi Ngunyi

Saturday, December 3rd, 2022 09:40 | By
'Honourable thing for 'Cherera four' is to Resign' - Mutahi Ngunyi
Political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi PHOTO/Courtesy

Political Analyst Mutahi Ngunyi now says the four embattled electoral commissioners who rejected the presidential results announced by the IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati should resign just as scrutiny is mounting over their future in the commission.

The four otherwise known as 'Cherera four' include the electoral commission's Vice Chair Juliana Cherera, Commissioners Irene Masit, Justus Nyang'aya and Francis Wanderi. On August 15, the quartet claimed that the final tallying of the presidential elections results was opaque.

"Honourable thing for the Cherera four is to resign from IEBC. It is that simple," Ngunyi said in a tweet.

This follows their suspension by president William Ruto pending further investigations into their conduct.

In a gazette notice on Friday, December 2, the President also appointed a nine-member tribunal led by Court of Appeal Judge Aggrey Muchelule to inquire into four petitions seeking removal from office of IEBC vice-chair Juliana Cherera and commissioners Irene Masit, Justus Nyang’aya and Francis Wanderi.

Other members of the tribunal are Carolyne Kamende Daudi, Linda Gakii Kiome, Mathew Njaramba Nyabena and Col. (Rtd.) Saeed Khamis Saeed.

Kibet Kirui Emmanuel and Irene Tunta were named as joint secretaries of the tribunal.

The tribunal's lead counsel will be Peter Munge Murage who will be assisted by Zamzam Abdi Abib.

"The mandate of the Tribunal shall be to consider the Petition for the removal of (1) Juliana Whonge Cherera, (2) Francis Mathenge Wanderi, (3) Irene Cherop Masit and (4) Justus Abonyo Nyang’aya from office as members of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and to inquire into the allegations therein," President Ruto said.

The tribunal is expected to prepare and submit a report and its recommendations to the Head of State within 30 days.

The decision followed approval by the National Assembly's Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) committee chaired by Tharaka MP George Murugara.

In its report, JLAC resolved that the petitions, filed by the Republican Party, Rev. Dennis Ndwiga Nthumbi, Geoffrey Lang’at and Owuor Steve Gerry, together with materials in support of their removal, be submitted to the President for further action noting that there were sufficient grounds for their removal.

“That the House resolves that his Excellency the President appoints a tribunal to deal with the matter in accordance with Article 251(5) of the constitution. That considering the matters to which the petitions herein relate, the House resolves that his Excellency the President suspends the commissioners pending the determination of the tribunal,” read the report in part.

“That the House finds that the petitions disclose the grounds for the removal from office of Ms Julina Cherera, Ms Irene Cherop Masit, Mr Francis Mathenge Wanderi and Mr Justus Abonyo Nyang’aya as commissioners of IEBC,” the report added.

The tabling of the report, however, sparked intense debate with opposition MPs storming out of the House saying the process was a sham.

They threatened to call countrywide demonstrations in solidarity with the commissioners.

Led by the Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi and Minority Whip Junet Mohamed, the lawmakers maintained that the Azimio coalition would not take part in a process that “negates the spirit of the Constitution”.

More on News


ADVERTISEMENT

RECOMMENDED STORIES News


ADVERTISEMENT