The National Assembly was on Wednesday, November 16, informed of three petitions filed seeking the ouster of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati.
The petitioners also want IEBC commissioners, Boya Mulu and Abdi Guliye removed from office, with their terms ending in months.
Shem Otieno, a petitioner, accused the three of gross violation of the Constitution, incompetence and misconduct.
The three petitions were received at Parliament's Main Records Unit for filing as is the standard procedure.
The three petitions are focusing on the respective commissioners, and their conduct during the August 2022 General Election.
Otieno has accused IEBC chairperson Chebukati of undermining the authority of the commission by overriding, excluding, vetoing and ignoring the other commissioners.
The petitioner avowed that Chebukati grossly erred when discharging his duty, contrary to the Constitution.
“The chairperson usurped the powers collectively vested in the IEBC by constantly issuing policy and press statements without due regard and consultations with the other members of the commission,” read the petition in part.
At the same time, Otieno's six-page petition claimed that Molu and Guliye were in unreserved collusion with Chebukati.
However, it is now emerging that the petitions never reached Speaker Wetangula's office, a month after they were filed at the records office.
Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi sought an explanation from the speaker as to why the three petitions had not been presented to the floor of the House for debate.
“This petitioner is wondering why his petitions have not been acted upon. No such petitions have been presented on the floor of this House,” Wandayi inquired.
The Speaker explained that the petitions were sent to the National Assembly on October 17 and processed by the Main Records Unit on October 25, but he is yet to have them on his desk.
Wandayi challenged the Speaker to bring forth the petitions for debate and final assessment by the House Committee.
“I’m saying this in view of the fact that yesterday we did have certain petitions presented in this House concerning a certain set of commissioners of the same IEBC. For us to be seen as a House which observes and upholds the rule of law, we need to understand the whereabouts of these petitions quickly,” Wandayi noted.
Speaker Moses Wetangula on Tuesday, November 15, presented before MPs four petitions that were seeking the removal of the four dissenting IEBC commissioners.
The other petitions before the House are seeking removal from office of the IEBC Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera, Irene Masit, Justus Nyang'anya and Francis Wanderi.
