2022 presidential election: Why Chebukati wants President Ruto to establish a commission of inquiry

Exiting IEBC Commissioners have requested President William Ruto to institute a public inquiry into what transpired at the Bomas of Kenya during the period preceding the declaration of the outcome of the August 9th, 2022 General Election.

Chairman Wafula Chebukati singled out members of the National Security Advisory Council (NSAC) whom he accused of attempting to interfere with the process, terming actions of the State operatives during the 2022 polls as the greatest attempt to usurp the will of the people.

"Intimidation of the members by some of the National Security Advisory Council members to moderate results which was against the people... the gravity of these attempts to subvert the will of the people cannot be wished away or swept under the carpet because they could come again," said Chebukati.

The IEBC boss was speaking during their last day in office where he presided over the launch of the post-election evaluation report auditing the 2022 polls.

In the affidavit filed at the Supreme Court when the election outcome was challenged, Chebukati accused NSAC  members of coercing him to tinker with the results and force a runoff, a request he says he turned down.

According to Chebukati, the inquiry will be crucial in ensuring the independence of the polls body is respected and avert incidents of abuse of power.

"The outcome of the inquiry we believe will bolster the independence of the commission and make sure its maintains the stature contemplated in the constitution. It will also enable a future election environment devoid of harassment, intimidation, profiling and harm of commission staff while discharging their duties," he said.

He added: "The 2022 General Election witnessed probably the gravest attempt perhaps to usurp the independence of the commission and the sovereign will of the people of Kenya as expressed in the polls. This attempt took the form of ethnic profiling, open threatening of some members of the commission, arrest and holding in communicado of web staff and service providers…"

Outgoing IEBC commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu also revisited the successes and pitfalls of the commission's management of the hotly contested election. They urged parliament to fast-track the approval of legislation geared towards instituting a legal framework to streamline the electoral process and also the recruitment of their successors.

"The IEBC office as chair or commissioner is not for the faint-hearted please choose commissioners wisely... I am satisfied that I did my best for my country. I leave IEBC better than I found it. I have no apologies to make to anybody,"  said Guliye.

"The journey of IEBC as an institution must continue despite who comes ad leaves because minus IEBC Kenya cannot stand… Please ensure the commission is not polluted with politicians, take political rewards elsewhere, this is a national commission. IEBC can collapse the country," stated Boya Molu.