Chebukati-Cherera differences play out in public as IEBC wars continue
Chebukati-Cherera differences play out in public as she admits IEBC commissioners only engaged in a public relations exercise to save face.
Following the disavowal of the presidential election results by four of the seven commissioners, the divides inside the IEBC continued to manifest themselves yesterday, Wednesday, with the chairman and his deputy publicly sparring during their first joint meeting.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Vice-Chairperson Juliana Cherera hung her boss, Mr. Wafula Chebukati, out to dry over the reason for the initial postponement of the polls during a meeting with candidates from eight electoral regions in which the elections were postponed.
IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati invited his vice Juliana Cherera to explain to the candidates what informed the first postponement.
However, Cherera put aside the official script to lament the secretive nature of IEBC operations.
Chebukati-Cherera differences play out she insisted that commissioners were not reading from the same script.
Ms. Cherera charged some commissioners were intentionally kept in the dark regarding the printing of ballot papers.
“We talked amongst ourselves as commissioners and did what we call PR [a public relations exercise] to save face because we did not want the commission to be divided,” Cherera said.
“We tried to put pieces together despite the fact that, as a commission, we didn’t even know the first ballot papers were arriving. We were only made aware on the night before the arrival,” she added.
She further detailed how, as part of a team appointed by IEBC to oversee the printing of presidential ballot papers, they were frustrated only arriving at the tail end of the printing process.
“We did not see Mombasa, Kakamega or Kitui Rural papers and so I cannot take responsibility for ballot papers that I was not part of [their] verification. I rest my case,” she said.
Caught flat-footed, Mr. Chebukati looked on not knowing what to do, appearing cornered after Ms. Cherera pulled a fast one on him.
“The commission issued a statement on the issue and we apologize for the mix-up,” was all Mr. Chebukati could say.
The IEBC has been split into two camps since Mr. Chebukati announced Deputy President William Ruto the President-elect on Monday of last week. Ms. Cherera is in charge of one camp, and Mr. Chebukati is in charge of the other.
In what appears to be a struggle of wills between the newcomers to the commission and the old guard, Ms. Cherera’s side is led by commissioners Justus Nyang’aya, Irene Masit, and Francis Wanderi, while Mr. Chebukati’s party is led by commissioners Abdi Guliye, and Boya Molu.
The four new commissioners officially stated that they could not accept the announced results of the presidential election when Mr. Chebukati announced them.
They have also expressed dissatisfaction with being ignored in the selection of returning officers, alleging that they were taken by surprise when the first batch of ballot papers arrived.
Also read,
Former Attorney Githu Muigai to represent split IEBC at the Supreme Court battle
KHRC, Angaza Movement accuses IEBC of election irregularities criticizing preference of international observers
IEBC commissioners subjected Kenya to global ridicule; Azimio leader Raila Odinga
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