Chebukati, Guliye, Molu refuse to appear before the National Dialogue Committee

In a joint statement on X--formerly Twitter---the trio stated that appearing before the committee would be "betraying IEBC staffers who were tortured and murdered, as well as rubber-stamping impunity."

They claimed that the issues they had been invited to discuss had already been resolved through a legal process.

They also claimed that appearing before the committee would be in bad taste because the outcome of the process would tarnish the Constitution and some of its organs.

"We have gone through the five thematic areas and would like to inform you that we do not wish to make any submissions before the Committee,"  the joint statement reads in part. 

"Our decision is informed by our perspective that the issues being addressed by the Committee are either within the mandate of other agencies or have been resolved by the legally mandated agencies."

According to the three, during their six-year tenure, they successfully conducted the 2022 elections, the results of which gave the President, Governors, Senators, Members of the National Assembly, and County Assemblies mandate.

"Some of them are now members of this committee. The discharge of our constitutional and legal mandate as detailed above is self-evincing," the statement adds. 

To address the smattering of issues witnessed during the previous electioneering period, the three now propose that a commission of inquiry be formed to investigate the unfortunate incidents that occurred on August 15, 2022 in Bomas, Kenya.

"The inquiry should also uncover  the reasons why some of the Commission's staff were abducted, tortured, or even killed during the election period; identify persons responsible for those atrocities, and thereafter appropriate punishment should be meted out," the statement reads. 

"The outcome of such an Inquiry will bolster the independence of the Commission (IEBC) and ensure that it maintains the stature contemplated in the Constitution of Kenya."