‘There was direct attempt to abduct, murder Chebukati’ – Ruto
President William Ruto has made new claims about an alleged domestic terrorism plot to kidnap outgoing Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati during the last general election.
Speaking during a meeting with members of constitutional commissions and independent offices held at the State House in Nairobi on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, the Head of State claimed that the plot was aimed at crippling the commission in an attempt to have new compliant officials.
"There was a direct attempt to abduct, and murder Chebukati so that the commission would be paralysed or a compliant commissioner takes over and subvert the people's sovereignty. It was a hard, cold, lonely time, the threats were dire, promised rewards lavish and pressure relentless," Ruto claimed.
Further, the President claimed that Chebukati's team was also offered bribes and threatened over the results of the August 9 presidential election.
"We now know that Chairman Wafula Chebukati, commissioners Abdi Yakub Guliye and Boya Mol as well as the CEO, Hussein Marjan, and their staff, were offered stupendous financial rewards to cooperate with the agents of impunity, but they bravely resisted," Ruto stated.
The President has continually praised the Chebukati-led team for resisting pressure and upholding integrity during the 2022 polls.
During his inauguration speech, Ruto showered IEBC with accolades for doing its work under challenging circumstances and singling out Chebukati for resisting bribery and intimidation attempts.
“The IEBC did its best in the just-concluded election, with results relayed in the public portal as they came in, with Kenyans being in a position to tabulate and get the correct figures. I salute chairman Chebukati and call him the hero of this election for resisting threats and intimidation to subvert the will of the people,” said Ruto.
To signify his confidence, he conferred Chebukati with the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (EGH), the second highest in the country, on Jamhuri Day last month.
Chebukati has overseen three presidential polls. And in all of them, his integrity has been questioned but he has survived, becoming the first IEBC boss to serve a full term since 2007.
