deep end

Kenya 2022: Election further deepens the divide among IEBC commissioners

By Jeff Otieno

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Posted on August 18, 2022 13:00

 © Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati announces the result in Kenya’s presidential election at the IEBC National Tallying Centre at the Bomas of Kenya, in Nairobi, Kenya August 15, 2022. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati announces the result in Kenya’s presidential election at the IEBC National Tallying Centre at the Bomas of Kenya, in Nairobi, Kenya August 15, 2022. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya

A day after four commissioners explained why they disowned the presidential election results, Kenya’s electoral body chairman hit back accusing them of unsuccessfully trying to manipulate the figures. The million dollar question is: Who is telling the truth?

Division at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) deepened after its chairman, Wafula Chebukati, claimed that the four commissioners who contested the presidential results had unsuccessfully pushed for a re-run.

In a hard-hitting statement, Chebukati said the four had wanted him to declare that none of the four presidential candidates had obtained the required 50% plus one threshold to be declared winner, as per the constitution.

Such a move, the chairman said, would have been against the law and the commissioners’ oath of office.

The allegations are expected to raise more questions than answers over the credibility of the just concluded general election. The Azimio La Umoja flagbearer Raila Odinga has already dismissed the results that declared his main challenger William Ruto the winner as “null and void”.

Raila has vowed to seek justice in court, accusing

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