IEBC Commissioner Wanderi Resigns

Francis Wanderi, the head of the electoral commission, resigned a few days after President William Ruto had suspended him from duty. Following a parliamentary resolution and the creation of a team under Justice Aggrey Muchelule, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioner is now the third of the four commissioners under fire who were scheduled to appear before a tribunal on their behaviour.

The first to resign was Commissioner Justus Nyang'aya on Friday, and Juliana Cherera did so on Monday. Commissioner Irene Masit has remained steadfast, stating through her attorney Donald Kipkorir that she is prepared to appear before the tribunal presided by Court of Appeal Judge Aggrey Muchelule.

The final verification and counting procedure was "opaque," according to the four commissioners, who disputed the results of the presidential election in which Dr. Ruto was declared the victor. Commissioner Wanderi defended their actions in his resignation letter to President Ruto, charging chairman Wafula Chebukati of "high handedness, authoritarian characteristics, and lacking principles of good corporate governance."

Mr. Wanderi said that by resigning, he was not admitting guilt. According to Mr. Wanderi, "there comes a time when the country is more important than any individual, including my own aspirations as a Kenyan to see our democratic process mirror those of advanced democracies. I do so as I tender my resignation today. However, I do so not because I am guilty of the allegations leveled against me by the petitioners."

Mr. Wanderi claimed that despite his resignation and the resignations of his colleagues Justus Nyang'aya and Juliana Cherera, little would change at the commission and that their dismissal "would not help the country realize its democratic and electoral reform ambitions." He stated that he was willing to assist in the reform of the electoral agency, including resolving disagreements within the commission and between commissioners, which he referred to as "boardroom issues."