The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Vice-Chairperson, Juliana Whonge Cherera, became the subject of conversation on Monday, August 15, as she led four commissioners to disown the presidential results.
At the time IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati arrived at the Bomas of Kenya, Cherera was holding a parallel press briefing at Serena Hotel, Nairobi county.
The other commissioners who broke ranks with Chebukati were Francis Wanderi, Irene Masit and Justus Nyang’aya.
The four ejected the outcome of the August 9 presidential election- terming the final verification process as opaque and shrouded in mystery.
"We are not at the Bomas of Kenya because we cannot take ownership of the results that are going to be announced because of the opaque nature in which these results have been handled," Cherera stated.
The dissension between Chebukati and his vice-chair raised questions about the effectiveness of the commission during the electoral process. Further, Juliana Cherera became a topic of discussion, trending for the better part of Monday evening, August 15 into Tuesday morning, August 16. But who is Juliana Cherera?
Profile
Cherera has amassed over 18 years' worth of experience in the education as well as public management sector.
Prior to landing the IEBC job, she worked as the Chief Executive in the Strategic Delivery Unit of the County Government of Mombasa.
She held various roles in the county government including serving as a secretary for the Mombasa County Economic Recovery and Legacy Strategy and was part of the county Emergency Household Relief and Nutrition Support Project Coordination Committee.
Cherera, who holds a Master's degree in Education, Leadership and Educational Management from Kenya Methodist University, briefly worked as an Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teacher before taking up a county government job.
Net Worth
During her interview for the IEBC post in September 2021, Cherera revealed that she was worth Ksh16.6 million. This comprised 11 acres of land in Kwale county, 1.5 acres of land in Kilifi, a two-acre tea farm in Meru South and a one-acre land in Mackinnon Market.
Further, she owns a Ksh3 million family house in Mtwapa, has 10,000 shares at a local telco, shares at Mwalimu Sacco worth Ksh328,000 and a Ksh2.4 million vehicle.
