The four rebel Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners faced the wrath of the commission after they were humiliated by other staff.
IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati had organized a four-day retreat at Mombasa Pride Inn Hotel to discuss the management of the August 9 elections.
Journalists privy to the matter intimated that IEBC Vice-chairperson, Juliana Cherera, Irene Masit, Francis Wanderi, and Justus Nyang’aya, were booed during the meeting, a move that further widened the already divided commission.
Addressing journalists after the retreat, IEBC vice-chairperson Juliana Cherera confirmed the incident pointing out that they also received praises in equal measure.
“Yes, I was booed. The other commissioners were booed too. But amidst the booing, some cheered for us,” Cherera said.
Cherera, further faulted her boss, chairperson Wafula Chebuykati for watching silently as other staff humiliated them.
“The chairman was in attendance and watched silently as some clusters of staff booed us and he did not raise a finger to stop them,” she added.
This comes at a time when there is a push to have the dissenting commissioners resign from IEBC, but they have vowed to stay put.
Two weeks ago, Garissa Township Member of Parliament Aden Duale vowed to deal with the four commissioners who disagreed with Chairperson Wafula Chebukati and are held accountable for their actions.
“Consequently, the four commissioners should be held accountable both individually and collectively. They cannot turn on and off like a switch and expect us to just forget everything. They must face the music,” Duale stated.
However, the Azimio la Umoja coalition has also stood with the four dissenting commissioners, praising them for their ability to stand up against the norm and voice out their issues.
Just before the presidential results for the August 9, General Election was announced, the four commissioners walked out of the Bomas of Kenya where presidential elections were being verified and tallied.
