Chebukati Names Azimio Leaders Who Wanted Him to Alter Presidential Results in Exchange for Handsome Compensation

IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati claims that he was approached by emissaries allied to the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition who wanted him to alter the results of the presidential election in favor of Raila Odinga.

In his replying affidavit to the petition challenging president-elect William Ruto’s victory at the Supreme Court, Chebukati claims that he was informed that Azimio Executive Director Raphael Tuju and former Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu initially sought to have a meeting with him on August 13th.
 
The two allegedly wanted the commission to first consult chief agents before making the decision to expedite the verification of presidential votes but he asked them to follow the duly stipulated protocol for raising their grievances.

Two days later, Chebukati claims Tuju managed to meet him in the company of former Busia Senator Amos Wako and lawyer Kyalo Mbobu, who attempted to convince him to alter the results.

He claims the three promised him a handsome compensation but he turned down the offer, insisting that the government pays him well to execute his mandate.

“…at about 3am on the morning of 15th August, 2022, I was visited by Raphael Tuju, Senator Amos Wako and Advocate Kyalo Mbobu. They indicated that they had made several attempts to see me to discuss the tallying and results. I told them that I could only meet them in the presence of all Commissioners,” Chebukati says in the affidavit.

“…shortly after, all the Commissioners joined us and Senator Wako was the first to speak. His message was that the Commission should not operate in a vacuum and that it must consider the link between the election results to be declared and stability of the country which he described to be the bigger picture. He proceeded to indicate that in his tenure as Attorney General he was the election supervisor and would moderate results guided by the need to achieve law and stability.”

He added: “Raphael Tuju spoke after Senator Wako. He indicated that it was necessary for the results to be ‘moderated in favour of baba’ and that any contrary declaration of results would ‘plunge the country into chaos’. As an alternative, he suggested that in the event that it was not possible to declare ‘baba’ as the President-Elect, then the Commission should force a run-off. For this, he indicated that should his request be granted it would be adequately rewarded.”

Chebukati claims four IEBC commissioners; Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera, Justus Nyang’aya, Irene Masit, and Francis Wanderi agreed with proposal to manipulate the results in favor of one of the presidential candidates while commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu as well as CEO Hussein Marjan declined to discuss such a matter.

“…having heard the sentiments of Hon. Tuju and Senator Wako, I invited the Commissioners to comment. Commissioners Juliana Cherera, Justus Nyang’aya, Irene Masit and Francis Wanderi agreed with the remarks of both Senator Wako and Hon. Tuju. On the other hand, Commissioner Prof. Abdi Guliye took the view that they did not even know the result by then and that the issue could not fall for discussion, a view that was shared by Commissioner Molu and the CEO,” says Chebukati.

“On my part, I took the firm view that I will respect the will of the people and announce the results as per the final tally from all the polling stations. As regards the incentive, I was categorical that I am adequately remunerated and do not want anything from anyone. Prof. Guliye and Commissioner Molu supported this view. The team left after about an hour.”