Three Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Commissioners have announced their resignation from the agency citing lack of confidence in Chairperson Wafula Chebukati.
In a joint press briefing at a Nairobi hotel on Monday morning, IEBC Vice Chair Consolata Nkatha Maina, Commissioners Margaret Mwachanya and Paul Kurgat said that external interference has encroached the commission’s independence under Chebukati’s leadership.
The three further alleged that the agency’s boardroom had turned into “a venue for peddling money, misinformation and grounds for brewing mistrust.”
“For far too long and many times, the commission chair has failed to be the steady and stable hand that steers the ship in difficult times and gives direction when needed. Instead, under his leadership the commission’s boardroom has become a venue for peddling money, misinformation, grounds for brewing mistrust and a space for scrambling for individual glory and credit,” said Ms. Mwachanya as she read the joint statement.
They faulted Chebukati over how key decisions at the commission were being made, including last week sending of CEO Ezra Chiloba on a three-month compulsory leave.
“The institution has continued to be dysfunctional with arbitrary decision making, leaking of internal documents to serve personal goals and pursuing of personal interests. All of which are against the laid down laws that govern the conduct of the commission leadership and staff,” they added.
The trio further disclosed that the decision to suspend Chiloba was made in absence of some of the Commissioners.
“The event related to the purported vote have greatly shaken our already feeble confidence in the chair. Given this severe deterioration of confidence in the chair, we find our position as commissioners under his leadership no longer tenable. Consequently we regret to announce our resignation from the commission with immediate effect,” they concluded.
In October last year, Commissioner Roselyn Akombe fled to the US where she announced her resignation from the agency. The resignation of Consolata, Mwachanya and Kurgat means that Chebukati is left with only two Commissioners, Prof. Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu.
