MPs Summon Wafula Chebukati over Ezra Chiloba's Suspension

Members of Parliament are set to summon Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati to explain the audit queries and determine whether the decision to suspend the agency's CEO Ezra Chiloba was justified.

Public Accounts Committee Chairman Opiyo Wandayi maintained that the fallout at the IEBC was a manifestation of stealing of public resources, adding that an explanation was needed.

Wandayi stated: “We may want to hear from the chairman, particularly if there are any audit issues concerning the matters we have been interrogating that have not been disclosed to us.”

The committee also summoned former IEBC chairman Isaack Hassan and former CEO James Oswago to appear and explain why expenditure of public funds was marred by misuse.

Additionally, PAC wants the IEBC to explain a report by Auditor-General Edward Ouko for the financial year 2014/15 the irregular procurement of election materials, overpayment of legal fees and unsupported expenditures.

[caption caption="IEBC commissioners Wafula Chebukati, Consolata Maina and Ezra Chiloba"][/caption]

The former IEBC officials are expected to explain how, despite budgeting for 337 printers at Sh654,000, only 290 printers were delivered at an inflated price of Sh760,000 for the 2013 elections.

IEBC Commissioners met last Friday and approved the that Chiloba should proceed on a three-month compulsory leave as the commission investigates internal audit queries raised after the August 2017 General Election.

“The commission’s plenary meeting received and discussed an audit report on some procurement matters,” Chebukati stated.

Chiloba appeared before the committee three weeks ago for a three-day interrogation where he blamed Hassan and his team which could have prompted the committee to summon the ex-officials.

[caption caption="IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba"][/caption]

The former IEBC officials are also on the spot over the payment of Ksh40 million to lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi during the Supreme Court hearing of the 2013 presidential poll petition.

 

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