Cherera & Masit Fled To US- Raila

Former Prime Minister and Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga, has revealed that former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Commissioners, Juliana Cherera and Irene Masit went into exile in the United States (US).

While addressing mourners during his visit to Makueni County, Raila indicated that the duo who were fired by President William Ruto for almost subverting the will of the people during the 2022 general elections, went into hiding in the US after Ruto assumed office.

According to Raila, the two decided to flee the country upon realising that State agents were threatening to kill them.

Raila Odinga addressing residents in Makueni County on August 15, 2023. /RAILA ODINGA

In one of his countless riddles, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader likened their actions to that of Video Assistant Referees (VAR) in a football game who dissent with the referee by determining that a goal scored by a player should be ruled out for offside.

"We went to the elections, into a contest where we went head-to-head and we had referees; one referee and six linesmen. Out of the seven, three said that Ruto won, but four disagreed, saying that he was offside; that he handled the ball. 

"The 2022 general election referees said that dissented the presidential results have all been fired. As we are speaking here, two of them, Madam Cherera and Madam Masit, are in the US; they fled because they were being sought after and their lives were in danger,” Raila claimed.

Raila also accused the State of developing a personal vendetta against people who had differing opinions of the government and were doing their job while Ruto is currently in power.

"This government claims to have won the election but they are still out to hunt down those who they disagree with. This vindictive habit is not good for the country.

"We must stand in unison against Ruto's vindictiveness. He is a man who believes in revenge against the people he does not agree with," he called.

It is now one year, and a few minutes after publishing this article, since Cherera and Masit, part of the infamous Cherera Four that also consisted of Justus Nyang'aya and Francis Wanderi, who daringly rejected the 2022 presidential election results announced by former IEBC chairperson, Wafula Chebukati, who would minutes later declare Ruto as president-elect.

The Cherera Four rattled Kenyans by doing everything to stand firm in their defence of their decision, including Cherera's mathematical calculations that turned her into a national laughing stock.

On December 5, 2022, she resigned from the IEBC after she was suspended by President Ruto.

"It is with immense woe that today I tender my resignation as commissioner and vice chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission," Cherera wrote to Ruto.

Masit on the other hand was fired by Ruto following recommendations by a tribunal that Justice Aggrey Muchelule chaired.

“The appointment and tenure in office of Irene Cherop Masit as a Member of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission be and is terminated with immediate effect,” Ruto said in a statement on March 1.

Nyang'aya and Wanderi also resigned from the electoral commission after they were suspended.