The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs has postponed hearings until Tuesday, November 29, 2022, to allow Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera to submit a response to the petitions filed against four IEBC commissioners.
According to George Gitonga, chairman of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, the decision to ensure a free and fair election was made unanimously.
Cherera’s lawyer, Apollo Mboya, had sought an adjournment, citing Article 50 of the Constitution on fair hearing.
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“This committee is inclined to grant adjournment however it is not along the terms asked for but according to terms considered as fair by the Committee,” Gitonga said.
In his statement, Mboya expressed Concerns over President William Ruto’s decision to identify the four commissioners in question as “rogue elements” on November 25. He questioned if his client would receive a fair trial in the absence of concrete proof of the claims.
Following Mr. Mboya’s request, committee chairperson Tharaka MP George Murugara called for a 10-minute break where members discussed the situation and decided to give him until today to make sure he obtains all the paperwork and appears before the committee at 8 am.
“Having listened to the presentation made by Advocate Mboya and following deliberations made by the committee members we have agreed to have an adjournment until tomorrow morning at 8 am where he will continue with his response having gotten copies of all the petitions,” said Tharaka MP George Murugara.
The four, Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera, commissioners Francis Wanderi, Justus Nyaganya, and Irene Masit, are accused of conspiring to sabotage the August 9th election against the will of the people.
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Other petitions filed in parliament pushing for the removal of the four are that of Garissa Township Member of Parliament and Defense Cabinet Secretary nominee Aden Duale and Farmers Party leader Irungu Nyakera.
According to Duale’s petition, the commissioners should be removed on the grounds of breach of their oaths and gross violation of the constitution.
Worth noting, Azimio La Umoja, leader Raila Odinga, said that they will stage nationwide rallies to gather feedback from the general public about the petition to dismiss four IEBC commissioners. On Sunday, November 27 Raila warned during a speech in Kisumu that the protests will start in big cities and then move to smaller areas.
The first rally will take place in Nairobi, the second in Mombasa, and the third in Nakuru, respectively.
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