The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs, Ms Praxedes Tororey, has retired just two days after the Supreme Court delivered its final ruling on the nullification of the presidential election.
IEBC Communications Manager Andrew Limo confirmed that Ms Tororey had attained the retirement age, rebuffing claims that she resigned due to the infighting and turmoil at the electoral commission.
"Yes, it is true that Ms Tororey has retired. It is just coincidence that her retirement time has come at this particular time when there is heightened political activity ahead of the fresh poll,” Mr Limo told the Nation.
Before joining the IEBC, Praxedes Tororey served at the Judiciary as a Magistrate for 16 years - from March 1991 to November 2007.
[caption caption="Ms Praxedes Tororey"]
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Ms Tororey was among six senior IEBC officials whom the National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition has been pushing to be removed from office over alleged electoral malpractices.
Others include CEO Ezra Mr Chiloba, voter registration and electoral operations director Immaculate Kasait, head of operations Betty Nyabuto, ICT director James Muhati and Commissioner Yakub Guliye.
Her move to retire comes only a few hours after the electoral agency announced a new date for the repeat presidential election which had initially been set for October 17th.
In a statement released on Thursday, IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati noted that the fresh poll will be held on Thursday, 26th October 2017.
The IEBC cited the full Supreme Court decision released yesterday as the main reason for the review of the election date.
"There is no doubt that the judgment impacts on the election operations and in particular technology to be deployed.
"In order to ensure that the Commission is fully prepared to deliver an election that meets the standards set out by the Supreme Court. We wish to notify the public and all stakeholders that the fresh presidential election shall now be held on Thursday, 26th October 2017," the statement read in part.
