Ruto Suspends IEBC Cherera Four

President William Ruto has appointed a tribunal that will investigate the four breakaway Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners, including vice-chair Juliana Cherera.

The tribunal gazetted on Friday, December 2 will be chaired by Justice Aggrey Mucheule.

Carolyne Kamende Daudi, Linda Gakii Kiome, Mathew Njaramba Nyabena, and retired Colonel Saeed Khamis Saced were also appointed to the tribunal.

Cherera will be investigated alongside Justus Nyang'aya, Irene Masit and Francis Wanderi.

"The mandate of the Tribunal shall be to consider the petition for the removal of Juliana Whonge Cherera, Francis Mathenge Wanderi, Irene Cherop Masit and Justus Abonyo Nyang'aya from office as members of IEBC and to inquire into the allegations therein," read the special gazette notice in part.

The president further directed that the four commissioners be suspended until the conclusion of the matter.

"Having received and considered the petition of the NA and in the exercise of the prerogative vested in the Head of State and Government by Article 251 of the Constitution, I William Samoei Ruto, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, do hereby direct that;

"The four are hereby suspended from office with immediate effect, and a tribunal to inquire into the matter be and is hereby appointed," read the notice in part.

This comes after the National Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) recommended to the President to suspend the commissioners.

“The committee recommends that the President suspend the four Commissioners herein pending the Tribunal verdict,” JLAC Chairperson George Murugara said.

The recommendation came after sessions were held in the past week whereby the four commissioners were summoned to appear before the committee.

However, the commissioners failed to appear before the JLAC committee to table their responses to petitions seeking their ouster, leading to the committee members compiling the report without hearing from them.

The push for the removal of the four commissioners has been bringing about sharp criticism from the opposition leaders with Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga, calling for countrywide protests to get the public's views on the quartet.

However, the rallies that were to start on Wednesday, November 30 were postponed to Wednesday, December 7 as Odinga cited the ongoing national examinations as the reason for calling off the rallies.