Details of four petitions presented to Parliament seeking removal of the four IEBC commissioners

The National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetnagula has confirmed the reception of four petitions seeking to kick out the four IEBC commissioners over gross misconduct allegations.

The four; Juliana Cherera, Irene Masit, Francis Wanderi and Justus Nyagaya rejected the August 9 2022 Presidential Election results announced by IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati.

The first petition was presented by the Republican Party and seeks the removal of the four on the grounds of violation of the constitution.

The petition argues that the four "failed to promote public confidence in the office that they hold, and brought dishonor to the nation and lack of dignity to the office contrary to article 73 (1) (a)."

The second petition has been presented by Dennis Nthumbi which also seeks the removal of office of the four on grounds of serious violation of the constitution and the law, gross misconduct, and incompetence.

In the petition, the petitioner alleges that the commissioners demonstrated partiality and biased conduct in agreeing to a proposal to alter the results.

The petitioner further alleges that the four accepted the proposal to alter the results of the elections to subvert the will of the people of Kenya contrary to article 10 (73) (b) of the constitution, Sections 9, 26 & 30 of the IEBC Act.

The third and fourth petitions have been presented by Geoffrey Lagat and Owuor Steve Jerry who also seek removal from office of the four commissioners over gross misconduct and violation of the constitution.

Speaker Wetangula has now directed the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee to look into the petitions and guide the house on whether they satisfy grounds of removal of one or all commissioners in question.

The committee has 14 days to assess the evidence submitted by the petitioners to see if it meets the threshold for Parliament to compel the president to form a tribunal.