Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati on Friday revealed that the institution had written a letter to the Attorney General's office concerning how the government has been frustrating them.
Chebukati divulged that the executive is yet to initiate the process of replacing former Commissioner of the institution Roselyn Akombe, forcing them to draft a letter to the Attorney General so that the process is hastened.
Chebukati added that in as much as the commission is managing to handle its affairs, they will soon need a replacement on Akombe's position.
[caption caption="File image of IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati and his former deputy Roselyn Akombe"]
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Speaking to Citizen TV, Chebukati emphasized: "Nothing has been done so far. We, however, hope to see changes soon."
The IEBC boss was in Eldoret to assess the welfare of the IEBC officers and progress on office developments.
He also asserted: "At the moment we are restructuring ourselves as a commission to ensure that we are not short-hand."
When asked if he has a cordial relationship with the commission's CEO Ezra Chilaba, Chebukati responded: "The CEO, Chiloba is an employee of the commission. We work together."
State House spokesman, Manoah Esipisu, maintained that President Uhuru Kenyatta is not keen on finding a replacement for Akombe.
Addressing the issue in February, Esipisu noted that the replacement was not on the President's list of priorities at the moment.
"The matter is not among areas of priority for the President. So I won’t be able to tell you when the process will start,” the State House spokesman stated.
IEBC Act on replacing Commissioners who resign states: "The President shall publish a notice of a vacancy in the Gazette within seven days of the occurrence of such vacancy."
"Whenever a vacancy arises, recruitment of a new chairperson or member shall start immediately after the declaration of the vacancy by the President."
The law provides that should the chairman or a commissioner of the IEBC choose to resign, they must do so formally in writing to the President, who will then declare a vacancy.
President Kenyatta is yet to declare a vacancy in the membership of the electoral commission four months after Akombe quit.
[caption caption="File image of President Uhuru Kenyatta and IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati"]
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