Cherera Four: Raila Odinga defends IEBC Commissioners

According to Odinga, the ouster process has kicked off while an existing petition in the National Assembly to remove IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati has not been tabled.

"A petition by Mr Milton Nyakundi Oriku dated 19th September 2022 against the three - Chebukati, Guliye and Molu - was received at the Main Records Unit of the Senate on 28th September 2022. To date, it has not been tabled before the Senate," said Odinga.

"Another petition dated 17th October 2022 was received at the National Assembly's Main Records Unit on 25th October 2022. To date, that petition has not been brought before the National Assembly even as the same institution begins to grill Ms Cherera and her colleagues," he added

The former Prime Minister also noted that the petition against the four commissioners has other motives.

Odinga was accompanied by his former running-mate Martha Karua, who also criticised President William Ruto.

"He [Ruto] is acting outside of the law. The commission act clearly says six months to the end of the term of the chairperson of IEBC, a selection panel must be formed to start the journey of finding the new chair. Chebukati's term ends in January, and instead of forming a selection panel, William Ruto is busy trying to have the act amended so that he can have a selection panel that will create a commission after his own heart," said Karua.

Karua noted that Ruto should, instead, form a panel to select a new IEBC Chairperson.

"Chebukati, Guliye and Molu should already be on terminal leave. We will not tire to remind Kenyans that if we drop our vigilance, we are in for a ruthless dictator than we have ever seen," said Karua.

She called for the establishment of another selection panel to replace the other commissioners.