The National Assembly's Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) has announced a schedule for the hearing of petitions seeking the ouster of four commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
In a notice published in the dailies on Monday, November 21, the four commissioners; Juliana Cherera, Irene Masit, Justus Nyang’aya and Francis Wanderi will be grilled on Monday, November 28 and Tuesday 29.
"It is notified for the information of the general public that the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs shall commence hearings on the four (4) Petitions for the removal of Commissioners of the IEBC as from Thursday, 24th November, 2022 at the Mini Chamber, 1st Floor, County Hall, Parliament Buildings, Nairobi," read a notice from Clerk of the National Assembly, Samuel Njoroge.
The four petitioners who will appear before the George Murugara-led committee are the Republican Liberty Party, Reverend Dennis Ndwiga Nthumbi, Geoffrey Langat and Owour Steve Gerry. They presented the petitions to the speaker of the national assembly Moses Wetangula.
On Thursday, November 24, the legislators will grill the Republican Liberty Party from 10.00am to 11.00am the Republican Liberty Party takes the hot seat from 11.30am to 12.30pm.
Rev. Dennis Ndwiga Nthumbi will appear before the lawmakers from 2pm to 3pm. On Friday, November 25, Geoffrey Langat will present his petition from 10.00am to 11.00am followed by a cross-examination session from 11.30am to 12.30pm.
Owuor Steve Gerry will present his petition at 2pm followed by a cross-examination at 3pm the same day.
According to the detailed schedule, Cherera and Masit will appear before the MPs on Monday, November 28 to respond to the petitions followed by cross-examination.
The other commissioners, Wanderi and Nyang’aya will face JLAC on Tuesday, November 29.
The hearings come after Wetangula tabled the four petitions before Parliament on November 15. The Speaker, then, directed the JLAC to evaluate the evidence and advise the house accordingly.
Murugara's committee is expected to table its report on the floor of the house on the suitability of the petitions within 14 days.
The four were accused of gross misconduct during the management of the August polls, during which they denied final presidential results announced by IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati.
Apart from the petition to kick out the four IEBC commissioners, there are also other three petitions filed at the National Assembly for the removal of Chebukati, commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu.
The three petitions which were presented by Shem Otieno Dianga accuse the trio of violation of the Constitution, incompetence and gross misconduct.
Chebukati is set to leave IEBC in early 2023 when his tenure at the Anniversary Towers-based commission ends.
