I won’t resign, says Kenya’s election umpire Chebukati

Chairman of Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries
Commission (IEBC), Wafula Chebukati said he would not resign
despite the invalidation of the election of President Uhuru
Kenyatta that he supervised.

In a statement, Chebukati defended his commission and said it
did justice to the election, a position that was ridiculed by the
opposition.

Raila Odinga and the opposition National Super Alliance(NASA)
are demanding the removal and prosecution of Chebukati and his team
for committing crimes against Kenyans.

“IEBC committed criminal act and belong to jail,” Odinga said at
the Supreme Court in Nairobi after the judgment.

Mr Odinga’s lead lawyer James Orengo said IEBC should not
preside over another election.

“What IEBC did was treasonable because they wanted to declare
the presidency against the Constitution. I don’t think IEBC will
preside over the election,” he said.

Chebukati in the statement on Friday called on the Director of
Public Prosecutions to investigate and prosecute any member of the
commission found culpable of election malpractices.

He said his IEBC will make make internal changes to staff ahead
of the fresh presidential election.

He also urged the Supreme Court to act fast and provide a
detailed ruling within the 21 days so that the Commission can
correct the errors committed.

In a surprise judgement, the Supreme Court nullified President
Uhuru’s re-election, ordering a fresh presidential election in 60
days.

Chief Justice David Maraga, who read the majority ruling said
the IEBC overlooked the Constitution and committed various
illegalities affecting the integrity of polls.

Said Maraga: “A declaration is hereby issued that the
Presidential Election held on 8th August 2017 was not conducted in
accordance with the Constitution and the applicable law rendering
the declared result invalid, null and void;

“A declaration is hereby issued that the 3rd Respondent(Uhuru
Kenyatta) was not validly declared as the President elect and that
the declaration is invalid, null and void;

“An order is hereby issued directing the 1st Respondent to
organise and conduct a fresh Presidential Election in strict
conformity with the Constitution and the applicable election laws
within 60 days of this determination under Article 140(3) of the
Constitution.

Two judges, Njoki Ndung’u and Jackton Ojwang’, ruled that the
election was free and fair.

Chairman of Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries
Commission (IEBC), Wafula Chebukati said he would not resign
despite the invalidation of the election of President Uhuru
Kenyatta that he supervised.

In a statement, Chebukati defended his commission and said it
did justice to the election, a position that was ridiculed by the
opposition.

Raila Odinga and the opposition National Super Alliance(NASA)
are demanding the removal and prosecution of Chebukati and his team
for committing crimes against Kenyans.

“IEBC committed criminal act and belong to jail,” Odinga said at
the Supreme Court in Nairobi after the judgment.

Mr Odinga’s lead lawyer James Orengo said IEBC should not
preside over another election.

“What IEBC did was treasonable because they wanted to declare
the presidency against the Constitution. I don’t think IEBC will
preside over the election,” he said.

Chebukati in the statement on Friday called on the Director of
Public Prosecutions to investigate and prosecute any member of the
commission found culpable of election malpractices.

He said his IEBC will make make internal changes to staff ahead
of the fresh presidential election.

He also urged the Supreme Court to act fast and provide a
detailed ruling within the 21 days so that the Commission can
correct the errors committed.

In a surprise judgement, the Supreme Court nullified President
Uhuru’s re-election, ordering a fresh presidential election in 60
days.

Chief Justice David Maraga, who read the majority ruling said
the IEBC overlooked the Constitution and committed various
illegalities affecting the integrity of polls.

Said Maraga: “A declaration is hereby issued that the
Presidential Election held on 8th August 2017 was not conducted in
accordance with the Constitution and the applicable law rendering
the declared result invalid, null and void;

“A declaration is hereby issued that the 3rd Respondent(Uhuru
Kenyatta) was not validly declared as the President elect and that
the declaration is invalid, null and void;

“An order is hereby issued directing the 1st Respondent to
organise and conduct a fresh Presidential Election in strict
conformity with the Constitution and the applicable election laws
within 60 days of this determination under Article 140(3) of the
Constitution.

Two judges, Njoki Ndung’u and Jackton Ojwang’, ruled that the
election was free and fair.