How Infamous Cherera Presser Forced Raila to Accept Election Loss

A collage image of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga (left) and IEBC vice chairperson Juliana Cherera addressing the media on August 15, 2022 (left).
A collage image of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga (left) and IEBC vice chairperson Juliana Cherera addressing the media on August 15, 2022 (left).
BBC/ Fredrick Omondi

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, for the first time, opened up on how the infamous press conference by dissenting IEBC commissioners forced him to accept the election outcome.  

Speaking during a thanksgiving event at a Safari Park on Thursday, September 29, Raila disclosed that he was wary of the nation plunging into chaos after IEBC vice chairperson, Juliana Cherera and her colleagues, Irene Masit, Francis Wanderi and Justus Nyang'aya opposed the presidential results

Raila referred to a similar 2010 event in Ivory Coast where the election body chairperson announced results in a hurry after differing with juniors. Ivory Coast witnessed post-election skirmishes that saw former president, Laurent Gbagbo, accused of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC). 

In Kenya, IEBC chairperson, Wafula Chebukati also declared William Ruto as president-elect at Bomas of Kenya while his deputy rejected the results at a parallel press conference, nearly following the same trajectory. 

IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati presents President-elect William Ruto his election certificate at the Bomas of Kenya on Monday, August 15, 2022.
Former IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati presents President William Ruto his election certificate at the Bomas of Kenya on Monday, August 15, 2022.
PCS

Raila recounted how he witnessed the aftermath of the Ivory Coast skirmishes having been appointed to serve as a mediator between the warring factions.

"That member of the Ivory commission (who tore the results) was acting on behalf of the then President who had lost the election. The chairman of the electoral body went to a secret location and announced the results then left the country in a quagmire.

"Close to one million lives were lost. I was appointed by the African Union to go and mediate in that conflict," he stated.

Azimio la Umoja troops have maintained that they won the presidential vote despite the Supreme Court upholding Ruto's victory. 

The apex court trimmed Chebukati's powers, ruling that he does not have unilateral powers to verify and declare presidential results - a decision Azimio termed as double standards given his declaration of Ruto as the president-elect was upheld.

"The Court finds that there was a boardroom rupture and that the Commission has to act in unison, but curiously says there is no evidence of a violation of the Constitution.

"Indeed, the Court dismisses its own holding about all the members of the Commission being involved by calling the happening at IEBC as “quorum antics”," the letter signed by Raila's ally, Makau Mutua and lawyer Paul Mwangi slammed the apex court. 

IEBC Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ruth Kulundu was caught in between the row of the IEBC splinter groups, with her boss, CEO Marjan Marjan, accusing her of assisting the Cherera-led team. 

Kulundu was, however, reinstated to the office after the High Court invalidated Marjan's directives on Friday, September 30. 

Nonetheless, Raila has insisted on reforming the IEBC and the Judiciary ahead of the 2027 elections. 

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
Kenyans.co.ke