Chebukati Details How Himself And Commissioners Were Harrassed And Intimidated

The Chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Wafula Chebukati yesterday, while declaring Dr. William Ruto as the president-elect, recounted on the challenges the commissioners, IEBC staff, and himself went through.

Mr. Chebukati said that on Monday, August 15, two commissioners, Bolu Moya and Professor Abdi Guliye along with IEBC chief officer Marjan Hussein, were injured when Azimio leaders attacked them at Bomas while they were getting ready to announce the presidential results.

Mr. Chebukati explained that some IEBC officials were also arbitrarily arrested including inside Bomas hall, the whereabouts of one not known while others were threatened.

In the incident on Monday where IEBC officials were injured, the violence started after agents of Azimio flagbearer Raila Odinga started arguing as soon as Mr. Chebukati arrived at the venue to announce the results.

Addressing the press shortly after walking away, Raila Odinga’s National Chief Agent Saitabao Ole Kanchory explained that despite several attempts to reach IEBC chair Chebukati to air their grievances, none bore fruits.

“The agents had been assured to be supplied with Form 34C which bears the result of that election. But the chairman has been avoiding us all day…He has deliberately held himself incommunicado,” Kanchory alleged. 

Within Bomas, shortly before Chebukati walked to the podium to declare results, violence erupted forcing police officers to intervene and guard the entire process.

The violence also caused the election announcements to be delayed until 6:00 p.m., contrary to what Mr. Chebukati had previously announced.

At around 5 pm, some Azimio supporters including, MPs and senators-elect, started trooping out of Bomas. Some observers and diplomats also left the national tallying center. Immediately, the Kenya Kwanza team burst into song and dance.

Originally, the announcements were expected to be released at nine o’clock, but they were postponed.