Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson Wafula Chebukati and the two remaining commissioners are set to conclude their terms in the next nine days.
Chebukati, Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu will exit the commision on January 17, six years after they were sworn in ending a dramatic chapter of Kenya’s electoral system that was charactarised by resignations and a commision split right in the middle.
Four commisioners; Vice chairperson Connie Nkatha Maina, Roselyne Akombe, Paul Kurgat, and Margaret Mwachanya who were sworn in with the three who have survived till the end quit after the 2017 election under mysterious circumstances.
Three of the four who replaced them; Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi and Justus Nyangaya quit a few weeks ago to avoid facing a disciplinary committee after the commision was split right in the middle over the results of the presidential elections last year.
Irene Masit has however said she will not quit and is currently before the the Justice Aggrey Muchelule-led tribunal.
“For the last five or six years, we have been improving our systems as a commission. Although I will be retiring in the next 10 or 12 days, I am confident that going forward, the IEBC will only get stronger and better,” said Prof Guliye said in Iten last Friday while officiating the Elegeyo Marakwet senatorial by election.
“For the people of Kenya, I would like to assure you that the commission is impartial,” he said.
While President Ruto has commended the three remaining commissioners for not bending the will of the people, Azimio leader Raila Odinga wants the Chebukati faction to be tried at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“Mpaka tusafishe takataka ya Chebukati, yale amefanya ni crime against humanity anafaa apelekwe Hague ashatakiwe huko….kama haitafanyika hakutakuwa na haja Wakenya 2027 waende uchaguzi,” said Raila on Friday in Mombasa.
