The 4 Commissioners Led by Cherera Wanted Presidential Results Changed to Force a Rerun - Chebukati

IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati now says that the four commissioners who on Monday, August 15 disowned the presidential results announced wanted the final tally changed to force a rerun. 

The four Commissioners Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Justus Nyang’aya, and Irene Masit disowned the results saying that the percentage of the total number of votes garnered by the four presidential candidates exceeded 100 percent.

In a press statement on Wednesday, August 17, Chebukati noted that all four commissioners were involved in the process until the last minute. 

However, according to the IEBC chair, when the four demanded that he moderate the results to force a rerun, he declined and proceeded to announce William Ruto as the President-elect. 

"As the gazetted National Returning Officer and in the spirit of teamwork, the Chairperson involved all Commissioners including Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Justus Nyang’aya, and Irene Masit in all activities of verification and tallying. Their duties were well defined in writing and allocated at the National Tally Center (NTC). They had access to all results beforehand and interchangeably announced them for six (6) days in the full glare of live television. 

"However, during a briefing meeting held on 15th August 2022 at around 3.00 pm before the final declaration of the Presidential Election results, the four Commissioners i.e. Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Justus Nyang’aya and Irene Masit demanded that the Chairperson moderates the results for purpose of forcing an election Re-run contrary to their oath of office. This is tantamount to subverting the Constitution and the sovereign will of the People of Kenya. The Chairperson refused to yield to this unconstitutional and illegal demand and proceeded to declare the results of the Presidential Election as received from the polling stations, and contained in Form 34A, in accordance with the law," part of the statement reads. 

Wabukati added that this was the most transparent election. 

The 2022 General Election is the most transparent election that the Commission has

ever held.

a) All result Form 34As were uploaded in real time and are available in the public portal. 

b) The original Form 34As were delivered to the National Returning Officer for tallying and verification by the 290 Constituency Returning Officers and 1 (one) Diaspora Returning Officers. 

c) Agents of all Presidential candidates participated in an elaborate verification process, and

d) Form 34C that contains the final tallies of all the 46,229 Form 34A from polling stations was uploaded on the public portal for access.

e) The Commission also allowed media, observers, candidates and the general public to have access to and tally the results announced at the polling stations.

f) If any of the parties elects to file petition, it is within their constitutional right and the Commission shall have an opportunity to respond and demonstrate in further detail the circumstances under which the election was conducted, results verified and outcome declared in accordance with the constitution and the law.