The committee chairperson said that there are only four petitions that they are aware of and they were properly served to all the respondents and they could not grant Ms Cherera the 10 days requested since they had strict timelines.
Murugara further clarified that the only evidence they have is the oral submissions of the four petitioners presented on Thursday and Friday last week and they have an obligation to ensure that justice is served to the petitioners and respondents.
He further said that the committee was not allowed to discuss the conduct of the President, the Speaker and Judges after Mboya wanted the President summoned over his post on Twitter where he appeared to condemn the four IEBC commissioners.
The advocate argued that in normal circumstances his client could have been granted 14 days but Murugara clarified that they were not a judicial entity but they were a parliamentary committee investigating the conduct of the four IEBC Commissioners.
"My client Juliana Cherera stands prejudiced if the documents she is requesting for are not granted, I would like to thank this committee for allowing me to get the other petitions so that I can go through them and appear before this committee tomorrow morning," said Mboya.
He requested the committee to allocate more time for the matter since the few hours given to his client were not enough to make file responses but Murugara said that only the Speaker has the power to do that.
South Mugirango MP Silvanus Osoro faulted Mboya for joining the team that walked out on the committee last week saying it denied him a chance to follow proceedings and get the necessary documents that he was seeking.
Gatanga MP Edward Mureu said that the committee was nonpartisan and intends to give the petitioners and respondents an opportunity to explain themselves and ensure justice prevails.
Advocate Kennedy Okongo representing the Republican Liberty Party, the first petitioner asked Mboya to state whether he had instructions from his client that the committee has jurisdiction over the matter since the team that walked out on Thursday had raised issues over the matter.
Geoffrey Lagat, a petitioner, opposed the adjournment sought by Cherera terming it a delaying tactic that was intended to deny the petitioners justice since Cherera had been properly served.
Rev Dennis Ndwiga, a petitioner, urged the committee to expedite the matter to prevent it from being hijacked by the political class who want to ensure that the petitioners are denied justice.
While the proceedings were ongoing, Members of the Bunge La Mwananchi protested outside Parliament Buildings in solidarity with IEBC Commissioners Julina Cherera, Irine Masit, Francis and Wanderi who are facing four petitions seeking their removal from office.
The protesters who were holding placards said that dragging the commissioners before the committee was intended to prepare the ground for their removal from office through a tribunal for rejecting the August 9 presidential election results.
[email protected]
Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletter
The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
join