Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati has claimed the four commissioners who distanced themselves from the presidential results announced Monday were seeking a rerun.
This comes as IEBC announces the postponement of elections in seven elective positions which were slated to take place on August 23, 2022.
In a statement released Wednesday which was in response to various claims by the four commissioners, Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Justus Nyang’aya and Irene Masit, Chebukati said during a briefing meeting held on August 15, 2022 at around 3pm before the final declaration of Deputy President William Ruto as President-elect, the four demanded that he moderates the results for purpose of forcing an election re-run contrary to their oath of office.
“This is tantamount to subverting the Constitution and the sovereign will of the People of Kenya. The Chairperson refused to yield to this unconstitutional and illegal demand and proceeded to declare the results of the Presidential Election as received from the polling stations, and contained in Form 34A, in accordance with the law,” said Chebukati.
According to the IEBC chair, the August 9, 2022 general election was the most transparent in the history of Kenya, given that all form 34As were uploaded on the public portal.
He said all physical copies of forms 34As from 290 constituencies and one from diaspora were also brought physically to the National Returning Officer for tallying and verification with all presidential agents involved in the process.
Chebukati also disputed allegations by the four commissioners that the presidential results were inflated to benefit the winner.
“The alleged 0.01 percent increase in the Presidential Election results raised by the four Commissioners namely Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Justus Nyang’aya and Irene Masit, is false and misleading,” he stated.
With an open fallout within the commission, IEBC has now postponed election which were slated for August 23, 2022 for gubernatorial positions in Mombasa and Kakamega Counties, Member of National Assembly in for Kitui Rural Constituency in Kitui County, Kacheliba Constituency and Pokot South Constituency both in West Pokot County, and Rongai Constituency in Nakuru County.
IEBC has also postponed election for Member of County Assembly Ward in Nyaki West, North Imenti Constituency, Meru County and Kwa Njengain Embakasi South Constituency, Nairobi County.
IEBC has also demanded for investigations into the killing of yet another electoral official, Daniel Musyoka who was the Returning Officer for Embakasi East Constituency and whose murdered body was found in Loitoktok in Kajiado County.
“As the Commission condoles with the family of Mr. Musyoka, we call on security agencies to speedily investigate and apprehend his killers,” said Chebukati.
In the 2017 general election, IEBC ICT Manager Chris Musando was also murdered under unclear circumstances. The case is yet to be resolved.
