By Spy Uganda Correspondent
President William Ruto has announced a vacancy for the chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), a position currently held by Wafula Chebukati.
The President, in a Gazette Notice dated October 21, 2022, also announced vacancies for two other commissioners whose terms will end in January 2023. These are commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye.
“Now, therefore, in the exercise of the powers conferred to me, I William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya notify you of impending vacancies in the aforementioned positions,” Ruto stated.
The IEBC Act stipulates that the President should gazette the vacancies six months before the commissioner’s terms expire.
He is also expected to appoint a selection panel consisting of seven persons for purpose of appointing the new chairperson and other members of the commission.
Chebukati was appointed as the chairperson in December 2016.
He was part of the Commission that oversaw the 2017 and 2022 General Elections, which were both contested at the Supreme Court. The outcome of the former was nullified, while the latter was upheld.
While declaring Ruto as the winner on Monday, August 15, Chebukati confirmed that he would exit office in January 2023.
“This was my last election as the Commission’s chairperson,” Chebukati stated at the Bomas of Kenya after the event was marred with chaos.
His deputy, Juliana Cherera, led three other commissioners, Justus Nyang’aya, Francis Wanderi and Irene Masit in dissenting against the presidential results.
Commissioners Molu and Guliye, however, stood with Chebukati in the Presidential Election petition filed by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Martha Karua. Ruto hailed Chebukati as a hero who vehemently defended the people’s will after the Supreme Court vindicated them both.
“That we can resist bribery, and blackmail and intimidation and serve the public interests as public servants… I want to say Chebukati is the hero of this election,” Ruto lauded the IEBC chair.
Notably, commissioner Boya Molu and Chebukati’s wife, Mary Wanyonyi Chebukati, were shortlisted for Principal Secretary jobs in Ruto’s government.
