President Ruto Suspends Four IEBC Commissioners, Forms a Tribunal to Probe Their Conduct

President Ruto has suspended the four embattled IEBC commissioners and appointed a tribunal to consider a petition seeking their removal from office.

In a gazette notice dated December 2nd, Ruto said IEBC Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera, and commissioners Justus Nyang’aya, Irene Masit, and Francis Wanderi will remain out of office while the tribunal conducts investigations.

The move comes a day after the National Assembly approved a report by the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) recommending the formation of a tribunal to investigate the conduct of the four commissioners.

The committee determined that the petition filed against the four commissioners raised enough grounds to warrant their removal from office.

“The House resolves that the petitions therein be sent to the president, that the President appoints the tribunal to deal with the matters and that the President suspends the commissioners pending determination by the tribunal," reads the report.

President Ruto went on to appoint High Court Judge Aggrey Muchelule as the chair of the tribunal whose members include Carolyne Kamende Daudi, Linda Gakii Kiome, Mathew Njaramba Nyabena and Col. (Rtd.) Saeed Khamis Saeed.

The joint secretaries for the tribunal will be Kibet Kirui Emmanuel and Irene Tunta Nchoe with Peter Munge Murage being the lead Counsel assisted by Zamzam Abdi Abib.

The tribunal has been tasked with reviewing the petition and looking into the allegations made in it in order to remove the four commissioners. It shall then prepare and submit a report with recommendations and use all the legal authority granted to it for the proper discharge of its mandate.