Tribunal Recommends Removal Of Irene Masit From IEBC Post

NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 27 – A tribunal set up by President William Ruto to probe the conduct of four Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners in the aftermath of the 2022 elections has recommended the removal of Irene Masit.

The other three commissioners Juliana Cherera, Justus Nyang’aya and Francis Wanderi had already resigned from office before the tribunal was set up.

The tribunal led by Justice Aggrey Muchelule on Monday recommended Masit’s removal from her post saying that an analysis of the evidence shows that her actions amounted to gross misconduct.

“Agreeing to the proposal by the two delegations to moderate results of the presidential election to enable a re-run with the promise that there would be a reward if this was done amounts to gross misconduct on her part,” the report by the tribunal reads in part.

According to the tribunal actions by Masit to join the other Commissioners to issue a presser at the Serena Hotel disowning the election results that they had all participated in tallying and verifying, were aimed at undermining and eroding public trust in the commission and the results it had released.

The Muchelule-led tribunal said that Masit was duty-bound to conduct free and fair elections and without intimidation, improper influence and corruption. The elections ought to be conducted in an independent and transparent manner and as well as be administered in an impartial, neutral, efficient, accurate and accountable manner.

The tribunal says that Masit actions show that she was under improper influence and that she could not be trusted to be a fair and neutral arbiter adding that she is ineligible and disqualified from holding office.