Outgoing Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Commissioner Abdi Guliye cautioned politicians who have continuously peddled the narrative that elections were "stolen".
Speaking after presenting the winning certificate to Elgeyo Marakwet Senator-elect Wilson Kisang on Friday, January 6, Guliye stated that such comments demoralize IEBC staff in its role of ensuring transparent and credible elections.
“It demoralizes the commission when people talk of stolen elections. Those times have ended," he stated.
He also confirmed that he was set to leave office eleven days after his term as a commissioner expires.
In what appeared to be his final speech in an official assignment, Guliye assured that the commission endeavoured to ensure impartiality and transparency while executing every function entrusted to him.
He added that his team always delivered on the constitutional mandate despite the myriad challenges.
“We have faced a lot of challenges as a commission, but we have always remained committed to upholding the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring that every vote counts," he stated.
Guliye, appointed in 2016, will be clocking six years in office as a commissioner alongside the commissioner's chair Wafula Chebukati and Commissioner Moya Bolu.
The trio's term will expire later in January 2023, paving the way for a fresh team to manage future elections and functions assigned to IEBC.
In their six-year stint, the above-mentioned commissioners oversaw three general elections, inclusive of the repeat election ordered by the Supreme Court in 2017.
Several controversies punctuated their tenure in office. The most recent one was the infamous split in the commission in the movements preceding the announcement of the winner in the 2022 election.
Guliye, Molu and Chebukati supported the results announced, while four other commissioners dissented and accused the former of dishonesty.
