The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman, Wafula Chebukati, has filed his response to the presidential election petition filed by the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition ahead of the hearing, which is set to begin next Tuesday.
Chebukati responds by claiming that the election was free and fair, dismissing the petition filed by the coalition’s leader Raila Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua as vague.
The IEBC chair also claims that the figures projected on its portal had no effect on the results, as claimed by the coalition, and that all Party agents were given an equal opportunity to verify the results, denying reports that the forms used to declare the results were forged.
According to the court papers, after the four dissenting commissioners, led by vice-chairperson Juliana Cherera, Nyang’aya, Irene Masit, and Francis Wanderi, finished their remarks, they were the first to comment on the said message and supported its adoption before deciding on the results.
The IEBC chair also claims that the figures projected on its portal had no effect on the results, as claimed by the coalition, and that all Party agents were given an equal opportunity to verify the results, denying reports that the forms used to declare the results were forged.
According to the court papers, after the four dissenting commissioners, led by vice-chairperson Juliana Cherera, Nyang’aya, Irene Masit, and Francis Wanderi, finished their remarks, they were the first to comment on the said message and supported its adoption before deciding on the results.
The commission’s chair stated that a debate ensued after the four dissenting commissioners protested and insisted that the results be changed in light of the NSAC delegation communication.
He went on to say that Masit and Wanderi thought the results should be overturned, while Cherera thought President-elect William Ruto’s votes should be reduced by at least 233,211 to force a re-run.
“Having heard all the commissioners’ perspectives, I maintained that I would not sit and discuss subversion of the will of the people, and that I will announce and declare final results in accordance with the verified tallies as verified and tallied by the commission,” Chebukati said.
Chebukati claims that the disagreement compelled him to storm out of the board room, accompanied by commissioner Guliye, Molu, and CEO Marjan, and make his way to the auditorium at Bomas of Kenya.
The IEBC chair also confirmed that he did not relay presidential results from all 27 constituencies as required, citing the fact that Commissioner Guliye, who was supposed to do so, had been attacked.
