Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission vice chairperson Juliana Cherera has resigned. Cherera’s resignation followed the resignation from the electoral body by fellow commissioner Justus Nyang’aya.
Here is what Cherera said in her resignation letter to President William Ruto:
“It is with immense woe that today tender my resignation as commissioner and vice
Chairperson of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Since joining the commission, I have dispensed my duties diligently, meticulously and put a spirited effort in helping the commission deal with corporate governance issues under very difficult circumstances.
As vice chairperson, I always advocated for fair treatment and equal opportunity for all staff.
However, my cumulative actions done in good faith are unfortunately misjudged and misinterpreted.
After careful consideration of the current events at the commission and with consultation with my family and lawyers, I accept that my stay at the commission is no longer tenable and therefore choose to vacate.
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I sincerely thank His Excellency Hon. Dr. William Samoel Arap Ruto, The President of the Republic of Kenya for the opportunity accorded to me to serve the republic. God Bless Kenya.”
Cherera was widely recognized as the team leader of the Cherera Four, the name that was given to the four rebel commissioners at the electoral body.
With Cherera and Nyang’aya’s resignations, it remains to be seen whether the two remaining commissioners Justus Wanderi and Irene Masit will follow suit or if they will face off with the tribunal that was set by President Ruto to probe their actions during the August 9 General Elections.
It also remains to be seen whether the tribunal will be closed down if all the four commissioners resign.
The Cherera Four had broken away from Bomas of Kenya minutes before the presidential election results were announced on August 15, 2022.
They held a press conference at Serena where they claimed that the results were opaque without divulging any specific errors or taking any questions from journalists.
Days later, the Cherera Four made a second press conference in which they gave a series of figures which they said would have affected the election results and brought the presidential winner’s tally down to below 50+1 mark. These figures were erroneous in their calculations.
During the hearing of the presidential petition at the Supreme Court, the Cherera Four also failed to substantiate their claims of electoral fraud, raising questions on whether they were acting out of their own volition or if they were under influence from exterior forces to alter the outcome of the presidential election in favour of one candidate.