The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) refuted reports that it had issued a statement affirming that Polycarp Igathe was still Nairobi County deputy governor.
On Thursday, March 5, report surfaced alleging that IEBC stated that it was unaware Igathe had resigned from the role, adding it was yet to receive formal communication.
On Friday, March 6, Chairman Wafula Chebukati issued a press release arguing that a law firm M/s Diro and the LLP wrote to them on December 19, 2019, seeking an advisory opinion on the status of Nairobi City County Government. The request was made on behalf of Nairobi City County Assembly.
The Assembly was seeking the Commission's opinion on the status of Nairobi County Government as a going concern based on court rulings barring Governor Mike Sonko from office and the existence of a vacancy in the deputy governor's office.
"On January 9, IEBC stated that it is not its mandate to provide direction on whether or not the Nairobi County Government is a going concern. It also stated that it had not received formal communication on the resignation of the DG (Igathe)," the agency replied.
On January 22, IEBC again received a letter from Sonko nominating Anne Kananu Mwenda, for the position of the deputy governor, thus indicating there was a vacancy.
"The commission would also like to clarify that it has no legal obligation to gazette the resignation of an outgoing holder of elective office but rather it has no obligation to gazette a new holder of elective office.
"Therefore the insinuations in the media to the effect that IEBC stated that Igathe was still in office and that there are two deputy governors is not only mischievous and malicious but is meant to discredit the commission," Chebukti stated asking individual parties to consult the agency before issuing remarks associated with it.
Through a statement on his Twitter account on January 12, 2018, the former deputy governor had stated that he had failed to earn the trust of Governor Mike Sonko.
"Dear Nairobians, it is with a heavy heart that I resign my seat as elected Deputy Governor of Nairobi City County effective 1 p.m. on 31st Jan 2018. I regret I have failed to earn the trust of the governor to enable me to drive the administration and management of the county.
"Without fear, favour or ill will, I step down to avoid abusing or betraying my oath of office to Kenyans, Nairobians and my family. Thank you for the encouraging support given to me so far," Igathe tweeted.
