Cherera Details Why They Stormed Out of Chebukati's Bomas Meeting

From left: Former IEBC Commissioners Juliana Cherera, Commissioner Abdi Guliye and Chairman Wafula Chebukati at the Bomas of Kenya on Monday, August 8, 2022
From left: Former IEBC Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera, Ex-Commissioner Abdi Guliye and Ex-Chairman Wafula Chebukati at the Bomas of Kenya on Monday, August 8, 2022.
Kenyans.co.ke

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) vice chairperson, Juliana Cherera, has revealed events leading to their walkout from the National Tallying Centre located at the Bomas of Kenya, minutes to the announcement of presidential election results.

In an affidavit deposited at the Supreme Court on Saturday, August 27, Cherera explained that together with three other commissioners, they decided to walk out of Wafula Chebukati's meeting, adding that he was bullish over the presidential election results he handed over to them for declaration.

Cherera detailed that they were only given a summary of the results even as they questioned Chebukati on whether he addressed issues raised by various presidential agents.

IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati and Vice Chair Juliana Cherera at Bomas of Kenya meeting party candidates  on August 22, 2022
IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati and Vice Chair Juliana Cherera at Bomas of Kenya meeting party candidates on August 22, 2022
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"On August 15, at 1.20pm, the Chairperson through the Commission's WhatsApp group requested the Commissioners to join him at the boardroom.

"In the said meeting, the Commission once again sought to tally and verify the results but the Chairperson indicated that he would announce the results and that the Commissioners were at liberty to join him at the podium," Cherera detailed.

Contrary to public perception, she indicated that it was Chebukati who first walked out of them and decided to go declare the results that had been contested by four commissioners.

She added that together with the three other commissioners, they opted to go to a Nairobi hotel following the chaos that were being witnessed at the National Tallying Center.

"When we left the room, we found a charged and chaotic atmosphere within the compound of Bomas of Kenya before together with Commissioner Francis Wanderi, Justus Nyang'aya and Irene Massit took a decision to proceed to Serena Hotel where we released a statement," read her affidavit in part.

Chebukati's vice chair insisted that they did not want to be part of the results that had not been completely verified given that the Commission was yet to declare results in over 20 constituencies.

The affidavit filed by Cherera is in response to a petition filed by Azimio la Umoja One Kenya presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, and his running mate, Martha Karua, who want the victory of Deputy President William Ruto annulled.

Chebukati has been on the receiving end of affidavits filed by his co-commissioners in regard to the ongoing presidential petitions.

Earlier, commissioner Justus Nyang'aya accused the IEBC boss of making unilateral decisions without consulting other commissioners.

From left; Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Azimio deputy presidential candidate Martha Karua and Azimio flagbearer Raila Odinga with his lawyer Paul Mwangi at the Supreme Court on August 22, 2022
From left; Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Azimio deputy presidential candidate Martha Karua and Azimio flagbearer Raila Odinga with his lawyer Paul Mwangi at the Supreme Court on August 22, 2022
Kenyans.co.ke