IEBC purge commences with the deputy CEO accused of aiding the four commissioners
IEBC purge commences with the deputy CEO accused of aiding the four commissioners who dissented the August presidential poll results.
The investigation of senior IEBC employees who helped the four commissioners who challenged the results of the presidential election has begun in earnest.
Ruth Kulundu, the deputy CEO in charge of operations at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), was given until last evening, Monday to answer to a “show cause” notice about suspected “incorrigible behavior and open misconduct in the last weeks.”
She received the show cause letter from her boss, CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan, on Monday, August 29.
Among other reasons, Marjan accused her of calling a commission plenary meeting on August 26 without his consent or delegation.
The four commissioners who had disputed their chairman Wafula Chebukati’s official pronouncement of the presidential election at Bomas the week prior reportedly attended this particular plenary meeting.
This would subsequently come to pass during the Supreme Court proceedings when Paul Muite and Issah Mansur, who had been appointed to represent the four by “the plenary,” showed up at the Court. The Chairman’s representative, Prof. Githu Muigai, objected and stated that no public procurement had been conducted to hire them.
It is implied in the show cause letter that the commissioners pretended to decide on behalf of the commission on its stance on the Supreme Court proceedings at the time through Kulundu’s facilitation.
“You impersonated the CEO and usurped his responsibilities as you purported to perform his duties without his authority or delegation. Moreover, Plenary Meeting No. 279 had already been held thus voiding the ‘other’ meeting of August 26 where you were secretary, rendering it illegal,” the charge states.
In the letter, Marjan informs his deputy that the IEBC Act is clear that the CEO “shall be the secretary at all meetings of the Commission.” He said this amounted to insubordination and a serious breach of her employment contract.
Marjan charges her deputy with harassing and threatening junior personnel in the second accusation. He specifically accuses her of “attacking, insulting and threatening” acting director of voter registration and operations Moses Sunkuli, so “instilling fear and worry about his life”.
“It is a gross misconduct to use threats and intimidation or behave in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace as stipulated under Commission Human Resource and Administration Policies and Procedures Manual,” the letter said.
Marjan warned his deputy that two charges are very serious and warrant “very severe disciplinary action including dismissal from the service of the Commission if found culpable.”
He also informed her that the commission was contemplating taking appropriate disciplinary action hence why it was offering her the chance to explain herself.
The IEBC purge comes after Kenya Kwanza, William Ruto’s coalition petitioned the parliament to investigate the four IEBC commissioners who dissented on the presidential results.
Also read,
Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza petitions parliament to kick out four IEBC commissioners
Petition filed for removal of Chebukati, two commissioners, and CEO Marjan Hussein
Supreme Court judges brought shame to the judiciary, James Orengo
Kenyans call Britain to return Koitalel Arap Samoei’s head after Queen’s death
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