Nairobi — President William Ruto has now declared a vacancy in the position of the member of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, following the sacking of commissioner Irene Masit.
The President in earlier notice announced Masit's removal after the Justice Aggrey Muchelule-led tribunal found her guilty of misconduct.
The President on February 14, 2023 declared vacancies in the other vacanices in the electoral's body Commission including that of Chairperson and five other commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
This means that the IEBC selection panel will now be seeking to recruit the Chairperson and six other commissioners of the commission.
"I, William Samoei Ruto, President and Commander-in- chief of the Kenya Defense Forces, declare a vacancy in the position of the sixth member of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission," reads the notice.
Outgoing Chairman Wafula Chebukati and Commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye left the polls agency on January 17 after their unrenewable six-year terms lapsed.
The three were appointed in January 2017 alongside four others, who all resigned unceremoniously after the 2017 general election.
Former Vice-chairperson Juliana Cherera, and Commissioners Francis Mathenge Wanderi, and Justus Nyang'aya resigned in December last year after President William Ruto formed a tribunal to consider a petition seeking their removal from office.
Commissioner Irene Masit was the last to exit after being axed from office after
she was found having contravened the Constitution during the August 2022 elections.
"I, William Samoei Ruto in exercise of authority vested by Article 251(6) of the Constitution do hereby direct that; the appointment and tenure of Irene Cherop Masit as a member of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission be and is terminated with immediate effect," reads the notice.
The Justice Aggrey Muchelule led Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) tribunal noted that the evidence tabled before the member team had satisfactorily proven the two allegations against her but failed to convince the tribunal on the aspect of incompetence.
Four petitioners had sought the removal of four IEBC commissioners Masit, Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi and Justus Nyagaya owing to their conduct during the period leading up to the declaration of Presidential Election Results in the 2022 General Elections.
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Only Masit was the only poll commissioner out of the Cherera four who faced the tribunal as the trio opted to resign ahead of the tribunal sitting.
Masit was sworn in on 2nd September,2021 to serve for a period of six years thereby filling the vacancies created following the previous resignations.
Evidence tabled before the tribunal alluded to submissions presented by the four petitioners, Former IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati and Commissioners Abdi Guliye.
Guliye and Molu, both of whom retired alongside Chebukati on January 17, backed the former Chairperson's account suggesting a plot to manipulate election results.
They said a faction led by then IEBC Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera suggested moderation of election results to deny President William Ruto a win and declare Azimio's Raila Odinga the winner.
Guliye said the proposal was presented by a team led by Vice Chief of Defence Forces Lt. Gen. Francis Ogolla.
