Legislators allied to Azimio la Umoja coalition on Wednesday gave the electoral agency 48 hours to rescind the decision to interdict the Deputy Commission Secretary of Operations, Ms Ruth Kulundu, or face unspecified action. Ms Kulundu was interdicted in a crackdown of senior electoral commission staff alleged to have aided the operations of four commissioners who disputed the presidential election outcome that declared President William Ruto the winner.
Led by MPs Opiyo Wandayi and Sabina Chege, the lawmakers have accused the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of acting in total disregard of the law and harassing officers who perform their duties according to the Constitution.
While addressing journalists during their induction at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, the MPs also told IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati to proceed on terminal leave and stop “creating unnecessary confusion and intimidating staff”.
IEBC chief executive officer Marjan Hussein Marjan had earlier reportedly written to Ms Kulundu — the deputy CEO — a show cause letter over alleged misconduct.
Ms Kulundu neither confirmed nor denied being interdicted by the commission, instead referring the Nation to her boss – Mr Marjan.
“I’d rather you talk to the CEO…just talk to the CEO,” she said when reached for comment.
Mr Marjan and Mr Chebukati, however, did not respond to queries by the Nation. Efforts to reach them on phone were also futile as they went unanswered.
Ms Kulundu previously worked as IEBC’s Regional Elections Coordinator from 2010-2017 and later as Siaya County Elections Manager. Mr Chebukati described her as an officer with 12-years’ experience in management of elections during her appointment in March.
Sour relationship with bosses
Ms Kulundu has had a sour relationship with her bosses since the disputed presidential election, where she was accused of convening a commission plenary meeting on August 26 without the approval of the CEO.
The plenary turned out to be the venue for discussions involving the four dissenting commissioners – Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera, commissioners Irene Massit, Justus Nyang’aya, and Francis Wanderi. It is based on this plenary meeting that IEBC produced two set of lawyers at the Supreme Court hearing of the presidential petition between Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga and IEBC.
Lawyers Paul Muite and Issah Mansur turned up in court to represent the four dissenting commissioners while former Attorney-General Prof Githu Muigai led the legal consels representing IEBC and Mr Chebukati. BY DAILY NATION