William Ruto Initiates Process of Replacing Wafula Chebukati, 2 Other IEBC Commissioners

• William Ruto gazetted vacancies at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for chairman and two commissioners
• TUKO.co.ke understands the tenure of IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye ends in January 2023
• The tenure of the chairperson and two members of IEBC is set to elapse on January 17, 2023, having been appointed on January 18, 2017

Barely two months after assuming office, President William Ruto has moved to reorganise the country’s electoral body.

On Saturday, October 22, Ruto gazetted vacancies at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission for chairman and two commissioners.

End of an era for Chebukati

TUKO.co.ke understands the tenure of IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye ends in January 2023.

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According to the gazette notice, the tenure of the chairperson and two members of IEBC is set to elapse on January 17, 2023, having been appointed on January 18, 2017.

IEBC Act requires that at least six (6) months before the lapse of the term of the chairperson or member of the commission, the president shall appoint a selection panel consisting of seven persons for the appointment of the chairperson or member of the commission.

“Now, therefore, in the exercise of the powers conferred by section 7 a (2) of IEBC Act as read with paragraph 1 (1) of the first schedule of IEBC Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, Presidnet of the Republic of Kenya and commander in chief of the defence forces, notify of impending vacancies of chairperson and two members of the commission,” said the head of state.

The decision by the Supreme Court of Kenya to uphold the election of Ruto as the president also marked the last General Election Chebukati was overseeing.

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His six-year tenure as the IEBC chair will end in January 2023, as stipulated in the IEBC Act of 2011.

Chebukati’s last poll assignment

While announcing the 2022 Presidential election results at the Bomas of Kenya, Chebukati remarked that it would be his last, wishing his successors well.

“I have done my duty in accordance with the constitution and the laws of the land. I feel proud that I have been given this opportunity to serve Kenyans. This of course will be my last election to preside over. And for those who will come, we have prepared for you what the constitution envisioned – an independent electoral commission,” he said.

In September 2021, former president Uhuru Kenyatta appointed Juliana Cherera (vice-chair), Irene Masit, Justus Nyang’aya, and Francis Wanderi as commissioners of IEBC.

In March 2022, the commission announced the appointment of Hussein Marjan as its Secretary and CEO.

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With the new and old commissioners on board, IEBC similarly witnessed a split minutes before announcing the results of the 2022 presidential election.

On August 15, the newly appointed four commissioners led by Cherera distanced themselves from the tally, which showed Ruto won the presidency.

They would term Chebukati’s process as opaque and filed affidavits at the Supreme Court to challenge the presidential results.

Divisions rock IEBC

However, after the Supreme Court upheld Ruto’s election on Monday, September 5, Chebukati affirmed that the commissioners would not be victimised.

After the Supreme Court’s ruling, IEBC organised a four-day retreat for its staff in Mombasa to reflect on the August 9 General Election.

During the event held at a luxury hotel in the coastal city, over 1000 workers of the electoral agency ranging from drivers to commissioners, held a bonding session.

However, there was a dramatic turn of events when the four dissenting commissioners rose to address the crowd.

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The four were shouted down by a section of the workers, who accused them of bungling the presidential election and widening the rift in the commission.

Source: TUKO.co.ke