Woman Called Irene Masit Threatening Her To Resign- Lawyer
Masit will be grilled individually as well as Juliana Cherera, Justus Nyang'aya and Francis Wanderi.
Marvin Chege 
Irene Masit, the only surviving member of the infamous four breakaway commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), has claimed that she was threatened to resign from her position.
Through her lawyer, Donald Kipkorir, Masit claimed that she was threatened through a phone call by an unidentified female caller.
Kipkorir spoke on Friday, December 9 after he appeared before the tribunal formed to probe Masit and three other commissioners.
He further alleged that the investigation by the tribunal might be biased owing to the joint evidence on the three commissioners who resigned from their roles.
Lawyer Donald Kipkorir. /FILE
"In view that three commissioners have resigned, to proceed with the investigation as it is may prejudice my client because the documents and evidence is joined," Kipkorir stated.
However, Justice Aggrey Muchelule, the chairperson of the tribunal formed by President William Ruto, refused to cave in to the lawyer's claims, adding that the three commissioners will be investigated individually when the tribunal commences its duties on Tuesday, December 20.
"The commissioners each took the appointment. It was an individual appointment and individual oath taken and it is an individual quest for the removal of the commissioners," Muchelule said.
Masit will be grilled individually as well as Juliana Cherera, Justus Nyang'aya and Francis Wanderi. The three quit office while Masit filed an appeal against the inquiries with the affirmation that she will not resign.
Justice Aggrey Muchelule, who chairs the tribunal, directed the commissioners to be served with all the relevant documents by Monday, December 12 to allow their respective legal teams adequate time to respond.
Masit had the previous day denied reports claiming that she resigned from her role hours after Wanderi did so on the back of being accused of almost subverting the will of the people during the August 9 general elections.
They opposed IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati’s declaration of William Ruto as the winner of the hotly-contested August 9, 2022, presidential election.
Wanderi had stepped down from his role earlier in the day over what he termed as a predetermined fate in the process of evaluating whether he, alongside the trio were suitable for office as conducted by the tribunal.
Cherera had stated in her letter to President Ruto on Monday, December 5 that she was stepping down from the commission, explaining how she carried out her duties in line with the mandate of her role at the commission.
"It is with immense woe that today I tender my resignation as commissioner and vice chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Since joining the commission, I have dispensed my duties diligently, and meticulously and put a spirited effort into 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," she explained.
The commissioners were suspended by President Ruto following recommendations from the National Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC).
