Following the tribunal’s recommendations, President William Ruto has revoked Irene Masit’s appointment as Commissioner of the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC).
Ruto said that the action was taken as a result of recommendations made by a tribunal presided over by Judge Aggrey Muchelule in a gazette notice published on March 1st.
“ In Exercise of the powers conferred by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, I, William Samoei Ruto, President and Commander in chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, declare a vacancy in the position of the sixth member of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission,” the notice stated.
The notice further stated that the law had concluded that Masit’s actions and the circumstances surrounding them were so serious that the only remedy was for her position as a state officer to be terminated.
Read: Former IEBC Commissioner Roselyn Akombe Lands Plum Job
“I note that the litany of gross violations of the constitution by Irene Cherop Masit as enumerated in the report of the tribunal meet the required threshold for the removal from office of the subject state officer. The tenure in office of Irene Cherop Masit as a Member of the IEBC be and is terminated with immediate effect,” the notice read in part.
This comes barely a day after the tribunal chaired by Justice Aggrey Muchelule recommended that suspended IEBC commissioner Irene Masit be removed from office. Muchelule claimed in a report that the IEBC commissioner’s charges were validated.
Read: Tribunal Recommends Ouster Of Embattled IEBC Commissioner Irene Masit
Masit disputed all of the claims levied against her and claimed she was the victim of a political witch-hunt, adding that she acted professionally and impartially during the election.
The panel, however, denied her defense, noting that she had failed to uphold transparency, accountability, and verifiability in her job as an IEBC commissioner.
This comes months after the removal from office of four dissenting IEBC commissioners, Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Justus Nyaganya, and Irene Masit, who were accused of conspiring to sabotage the August 9th election against the will of the people.
Their suspension came as a result of a recommendation made by the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee of the National Assembly.
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