Raila reiterated that the four commissioners were innocent of the allegations being laid against them. “The conduct of the commission was part of the election petition. None of the commissioners was found to have committed any offence; only Chebukati was found to have acted unilaterally
Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Party leader Raila Odinga now wants the four embattled IEBC commissioners who are currently under fire for opposing the August 9th election results to refrain from attending the ongoing hearing on petitions filed against them.
Led by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Vice Chair Juliana Cherera, the commissioners (Justus Nyang’aya, Irene Masit and Francis Wanderi) were summoned to respond to petitions filed against them alleging that their conduct amounted to a betrayal of public trust of the people of Kenya, thereby rendering them unfit to continue holding offices and or acting as such.
The commissioners are also being accused of proceeding with their ‘treacherous’ schemes in the Supreme Court where they swore affidavits based on falsehood, a fact the court noted in its final decision.
According to the petitioners, the commissioners’ actions that afternoon had the effect of subverting the will of the people which violates provisions of Articles 1, 2, 73, 74, 138 and 140 of the Kenyan constitution. The petition claims that their conduct was reckless and selfish.
Speaking on Thursday, Raila reiterated that the four commissioners were innocent of the allegations being laid against them. “The conduct of the commission was part of the election petition. None of the commissioners was found to have committed any offence; only Chebukati was found to have acted unilaterally.
The ODM leader claimed that the petitions filed against the commissioners were politically instigated and thus illegal. “A member of a commission is not liable to anything done in good faith. By summoning these commissioners, MPs are usurping the role of a tribunal,” he stated.
“This probe is therefore politically motivated. It is a continuation of the witch-hunt mission that Ruto is on. In fact, we advise the commissioners to boycott it in the interest of constitutionalism and the rule of law.”
