President Ruto Fires Irene Masit From IEBC, Declares Vacancy

President William Ruto has fired Irene Masit as IEBC commissioner following recommendations by Justice Aggrey Muchelule tribunal and announced a vacancy for her position.

Ruto’s move comes after the tribunal formed to hear the petition for the removal from office of Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Masit, and Justus Nyang’aya recommended that Masit be removed.

In a gazette notice issued on Wednesday, Ruto stated that, while the recommendations of the tribunal are binding on him as the head of state, Masit’s litany of gross violations of the constitution, as enumerated in the Tribunal’s report, meet the required threshold for her removal from office.

“I note that the litany of gross violations of the constitution by Irene Cherop Masit as enumerated in the report of the tribunal meet the required threshold for the removal from office of the subject state officer.

“The tenure in office of Irene Cherop Masit as a Member of the IEBC be and is terminated with immediate effect,” the notice read in part.

The president further announced a vacancy in the position occupied by Masit in IEBC.

“ In Exercise of the powers conferred by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, I, William Samoei Ruto, President and Commander in chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, declare a vacancy in the position of the sixth member of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission,” the notice stated. 

Last month, the Mucheule-led tribunal stated in its report to President Ruto that the allegations of gross misconduct levelled against Commissioner Masit were proven to the required standard.

“The tribunal is satisfied that the allegations of serious violation of the Constitution and other laws, and gross misconduct have been proved to the required standard and qualifies a recommendation for the removal from office of Commissioner Masit,” read the tribunal’s statement in part.

Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, and Justus Nyang’aya, unlike Masit, chose to resign from the IEBC rather than face a tribunal whose recommendation now bars Masit from holding public office.