IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati Thrown Out of Parliament Committee

The joint select committee collecting views on the proposed amendments on electoral laws was on Thursday forced to send away Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati for turning up without other members of the commission.

The joint National Assembly and the Senate committee chaired by Baringo North MP William Cheptumo and Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo sent the IEBC boss away after realizing he arrived to submit views alone.

He told the committee that other commissioners and staff were engaged in the field as preparations for repeat elections continue. Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja, however, said the chairman can not be allowed to speak alone yet the committee invited the commission. “Can the chairman confirm that indeed he has a signed memorandum from the commission? We didn’t invite the chairman of the IEBC. We invited the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission,” said Sakaja, adding that Chebukati should present a memorandum signed by the other commissioners.

Questioned why he came alone to make the commission's submission, he said: “I speak for the commission and if you want the whole commission here, they can come.”

Members of the committee unanimously agreed to send Chebukati away and asked him to come back before or at 7pm with the rest of the team or with a document indicating that the views he would make was arrived at jointly.