Azimio la Umoja Members of Parliament alleged that President William Ruto was behind petitions seeking the removal of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission vice chairperson, Juliana Cherera, and three other commissioners from office.
Speaking to Ramogi TV, the legislators, mostly drawn from the ODM party, questioned the timing of the petitions given that IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati’s term ends in January 2023.
Mathare MP, Antony Oluoch, claimed that the Kenya Kwanza administration wanted to have new faces at the commission before the 2027 elections.
The new commission, Oluoch alleged, would be easily influenced to ensure that the head of state retains his seat.
“Already Wafula Chebukati and his team will be leaving in January. They have also brought amendments to change the selection panel. They want a compromised Commission.
“What they are simply doing is that they are planning on having a Commission that they will control 100 per cent,” he stated.
On his part, ODM chairperson, John Mbadi opined that Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Irene Masit and Justus Nyangaya were being targeted for siding with Azimio during the Presidential petition.
The nominated MP added that the coalition, led by Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, would oppose any attempts to remove the four from office.
He added that they would seek alternative means to address the matter given that Kenya Kwanza has numbers in Parliament.
“If we are not careful as Kenyans and become assertive in oversight of this government, we shall have a problem because if they can attempt to deal with those who disagreed with their win, there is nowhere we will go.
“We want to have an electoral body that is independent and does not take sides,” he stated.
National Assembly Legal Affairs Committee is set to deliberate on the petitions filed in Parliament before a report is tabled for debate.
If MPS determines that the four are unfit for office, Ruto will form an inquiry commission to investigate their conduct.
The Commission will then recommend their removal or dismiss the petitions.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE
