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.
"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.