Cherera, 3 IEBC Commissioners To Defend 100.01 Maths Error In Raila Petition

This is after all the seven commissioners, including chairperson Wafula Chebukati, were named as respondents in a first instance for a presidential election petition.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Aug 26, 2022 - 07:54 Updated: Aug 26, 2022 - 07:54
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Cherera, 3 IEBC Commissioners To Defend 100.01 Maths Error In Raila Petition
Juliana Cherera and Wafula Chebukati while meeting candidates from areas where election was postponed at Bomas of Kenya on August 22, 2022. /FILE

Four Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners who turned down the presidential election results that saw William Ruto declared the winner are set to file separate affidavits seeking to defend their mathematical error claims in Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga's petition.

This is after all the seven commissioners, including chairperson Wafula Chebukati, were named as respondents in a first instance for a presidential election petition.

Vice-Chairperson Juliana Cherera and commissioners Justus Nyang’aya, Francis Wanderi and Irene Masit had thrown away the results alleging that there was no clear winner in the tightly-contested race.

IEBC chairman, Wafula Chebukati issuing William Ruto his certificate after winning the election. /WILLIAM RUTO

They each instructed a lawyer to file their responses which seek to go in line with their public statements that the electoral process was interfered with.

One of the commissioners revealed that each of them will be represented by a separate lawyer at the Supreme Court but they will demand that IEBC caters for their affidavits as they were mentioned in the case as commissioners, not individuals.

The commissioner added that they are ready to testify, whether as individuals or not, on the events that took place at the Bomas of Kenya before the results were announced on Monday, August 15.

“We have already identified our lawyers and given them directives. We need our own lawyers because the prayers Raila Odinga has given to the court in relation to the case are different from what we have been listed to answer,” said the commissioner on condition of anonymity to the Nation.

“We will always stand with the truth and that’s why we need to have our own lawyers."

The official added that the lawyers hired by the IEBC will be defending the commission's revelations that there was no rigging as alleged by the Azimio coalition. However, their lawyers will argue their position that Chebukati side-lined them in the verification of presidential results from 27 constituencies.

The commissioner also defended the quartet against claims that they had collaborated with the Azimio team, adding that they were independent and non-partisan in the electoral process.

Cherera and her team argued that the victory of Ruto was improper over claims of a mathematical error in calculating the percentage of votes amassed by the four presidential candidates.

They alleged that the total percentage of the four candidates passed the 100 per cent mark by 0.01 per cent.

However, their claims were heavily disputed by multiple fact-checking channels ranging from local media houses such as Viral Tea to mathematical experts and eventually Chebukati.

IEBC Vice-chair, Juliana Cherera. /TWITTER

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