Chebukati exposes unknown details of 3 Commissioners who resigned

IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati on Thursday told the National Assembly’s Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) that three commissioners who resigned last month have not returned the Commissions property.

Chebukati told the committee that the three commissioners - IEBC vice chairperson Connie Nkatha Maina and commissioners Margaret Mwachanya and Paul Kurgat – did not formally write to him to indicate their resignation, but confirmed that they did so to President Uhuru Kenyatta.

He further stated that the three have not returned laptop computers, vehicles and drivers which were assigned to them.

"They have not returned commission items such as laptops, vehicles and drivers," he said.

ALSO READ: Chebukati speaks on resigning after 3 commissioners quit

He added: "...they are not working for us. I haven't received any response. They sent their resignation letters to the President but I thought it was in good taste if they copied the letters to me and to the head of public service.”

The appearance of Mr Chebukati comes barely weeks after he wrote to the Treasury CS Henry Rotich demanding that the salaries of the three be withheld. He added that the Treasury had not responded to his letter, and that he was not aware if the three got their April salaries.

"I don't know whether they are earning their salaries or not... I wrote a letter to the treasury. We have not received any communication," Chebukati said.

He added: "I have not received any information on the commissioners either from them, head of public service or any authority.”

Chebukati further maintained that him and the other commissioners will not quit until deemed unfit to hold office.

"We believe that we have been called to resign out there but we don't see that as a reason. We believe we are doing our job and the right thing. We can't resign because others resigned.

"I don't have a tool to measure public confidence. All I hear are a few voices out there,” he said.

Despite his adamancy to leave office, Peter Gichira who is a former Presidential candidate contends that Chebukati grossly violated Article 47 of the Constitution by refusing, in his capacity as the Returning Officer of the 8th August, 2017 Presidential Election, to allow him to submit his list of nomination signatures.

He state that the Chairperson further rejected his documents and failed to give him reasons for the same.

“The Chairperson rejected the Petitioner’s documents and failed to give him reasons for the same. The High Court in Judicial Review Case No. 273 of 2017 expressly found that the IEBC had treated the Petitioner unfairly.

“Article 47 of the Constitution guarantees Kenyans’ fair administrative action by providing that every person has the right to administrative action that is expeditious, efficient, lawful, reasonable and procedurally fair,” he said.