IEBC to hear complaints by all aspirants at Milimani Law Courts

IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati. [File, Standard]

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commissioner (IEBC) Disputes Resolution Committee will hear 262 complaints filed by aspirants for the next ten days.

IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati said that the aspirants will get the verdict on the complaints within 48 hours since the commission had set up three panels at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi to hear the matters.

Yesterday, Chebukati told the committee to bear in mind that this is an election process, subject to scrutiny with strict adherence to the principles of natural justice, the Constitution and the law.

“I must admit, that in 2017, I was the only advocate in the Commission and I had to sit and preside over the three Committees of the Commission. It was a Herculean task and hence the change of tack this time when we have three panels hearing the petitions,” said Chebukati at the Milimani Law Courts.

The IEBC chair also said that considering that he is also a Returning Officer and may not manage to sit in a dispute challenging his own decisions unlike in 2017, it was prudent they were handled by the committee.

Chebukati said the IEBC shared the statutory qualifications and requirements for any aspirants who intended to vie for any elective seat, however, like in every process, anyone who is aggrieved is allowed to challenge the commission's decisions.

He said the Commission is guided by the Constitution and statutory provisions in the conduct of its processes and that Article 88 (4) (f) requires the Commission to register candidates for election (Nomination) which was concluded successfully on June 7, 2022.

“The Commission is responsible for the settlement of electoral disputes, including disputes relating to or arising from nominations but excluding election petitions and disputes subsequent to the declaration of election results,” said Chebukati.

He said that the Commission appointed the Membership of the Dispute Resolution Committee on June 6, 2022, for purposes of hearing and determining disputes arising from the process of registering candidates, with the three panels having a Presiding Chair, committee members and secretaries.

Also present at Milimani Law Courts were IEBC vice chair Juliana Cherera, commissioners Justus Nyangaya, Boya Molu, Francis Wanderi, Irine Masit, Abdi Guliye, advocates and aspirants from various parts of the country who have filed complaints.