The four “opaque” IEBC commissioners have welcomed the Supreme Court’s verdict that upheld the election of William Ruto as the fifth president.
The four including IEBC vice chairperson Juliana Cherera, Justus Nyang’aya, Irene Masit, and Francis Wanderi on Tuesday, September 6, said they have accepted and that they respect the Supreme Court verdict.
“After the Supreme Court of Kenya made her ruling on Monday, September 5, on the presidential election petition, particularly with regard to our role as commissioners, we wish to convey our appreciation to the judges of the Supreme Court of Kenya and confirm that we respect their collective decision,
“We wish to reiterate that we stand by rule of law and statute that promote effectiveness f the work of the commission,” the four IEBC rebels said in a statement.
Their remarks come just a day after seven judges of the apex court unanimously upheld William Ruto’s presidential win in a scathing judgment that blasted opposition leader Raila Odinga’s accusations of cheating.
The four had last month disowned the results announced by IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati saying the results lacked transparency.
The commissioners went ahead to file a petition challenging the election of Ruto and listed six grounds in which they alleged that Wafula Chebukati acted in defiance of normal procedure at the commission.
Chief Justice Martha Koome, while delivering the final judgment on the consolidated presidential election petition said the bench had taken cognizance that the four commissioners actively participated in the tallying and verification exercise.
“We note that aside from their 11th-hour walkout, the four commissioners have not placed before this court any document to show the result of the election was altered,” she said.
However, Kenyans living in the diaspora have called for the immediate resignation of the four IEBC rebel commissioners over what they term an “attempted subversion of the sovereign power of the people of Kenya by engaging in treasonable behavior.”
“Their actions are tantamount to a civilian coup and cannot be wished away, put aside, or ignored by the people of Kenya,” said Sebastian Onyango, chairman of Kenyans living in diaspora.
