The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has referred the election-rigging claims case against Deputy President William Ruto to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
On Thursday, March 24, Chebukati told the Senate Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) that the electoral agency referred the investigations to the DPP due to jurisdictional challenges.
Chebukati explained that the comments were made during Dr Ruto’s tour of the United States, and this was out of the IEBC’s jurisdiction.
He pointed out that the electoral agency's legal team looked into the utterances by the DP and advised the Commissioners that they could not do anything since Ruto was abroad.
“We commenced investigation on the speech that DP made in Maryland, during his tour of the United States. Our investigation team then informed us that we could not continue with the investigation because of the jurisdiction issue.
"We, therefore, referred the matter to the DPP who also has the power to enforce the code of conduct," Chebukati stated.
The IEBC Chairperson was also tasked to explain what the Commission was doing to curb dangerous and inciteful remarks by politicians amid the August elections.
He stated that the electoral agency was working closely with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to hold politicians accountable. He also cautioned politicians against making reckless remarks.
“We are working with other agencies including National Cohesion and Integration Commission which also help us with hate speech investigations.
"We are asking Kenyans and political players to refrain from making sentiments that may lead to voter inflammation and apathy which will intern affect the election outcome,” Chebukati expressed.
Although Chebukati acknowledged that the IEBC will hold free, fair, credible, impartial, secure and verifiable elections in August, he noted that politicians need to be responsive enough and refrain from tainting the sanctity of the polls by their words.
The NCIC on Friday, March 18, announced a crackdown against 36 bloggers accused of making remarks bordering hate speech and incitement.
Speaking during a briefing on the State of Peace and Political Decency, NCIC Chairperson Samuel Kobia confirmed that the commission was going after the 36 affiliated with political coalitions.
The 36 bloggers were alleged to be behind coordinated attacks orchestrated by the Azimio La Umoja coalition and the Kenya Kwanza alliance.
