And with the political heat building ahead of the repeat poll next Thursday, the discomfort is only certain to rise for the soft-spoken lawyer who has cut a face of calmness even when besieged.
His troubles started on Tuesday when the Supreme Court upheld a decision by the Court of Appeal denying him powers to edit election results from constituencies.
In their judgment, five judges of the court said where there are discrepancies between results in Forms 34A and 34B, the chairman should announce the results and leave the matter to the court.
From a setback in the court to a shock resignation of one of his officials barely a week before a repeat presidential election, it has been a week of a baptism of fire for the 56-year-old chair of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Wanyonyi Wafula Chebukati.
And with the political heat building ahead of the repeat poll next Thursday, the discomfort is only certain to rise for the soft-spoken lawyer who has cut a face of calmness even when besieged.
His troubles started on Tuesday when the Supreme Court upheld a decision by the Court of Appeal denying him powers to edit election results from constituencies.
In their judgment, five judges of the court said where there are discrepancies between results in Forms 34A and 34B, the chairman should announce the results and leave the matter to the court.
The judges said Mr Chebukati has the duty to verify the results as transmitted electronically. However, in the event that he detects errors, all he is required to do is notify the parties, observers, and the public and leave it to the election court to determine.
And barely a day after the upset in court, the IEBC boss was facing yet another crisis after one of his commissioners, Roselyn Akombe, quit while en route to Dubai on official duty to inspect the printing of ballot papers for use in the repeat presidential elections.
Dr Akombe also released a statement in which she pegged her decision on eleventh-hour instructions on changes in technology and electronic transmission of results, the attacks on IEBC staff and rushed training due to fear.
She further blamed partisan senior secretariat staff and commissioners, “endless legal suits” and what she said was skewed legal advice to fit political interests.
“The commission in its current state can surely not guarantee a credible election on October 26,” said Dr Akombe in the statement.
“I do not want to be party to such a mockery of electoral integrity.”
But even more tellingly, Dr Akombe described Mr Chebukati as “a man under siege” who could not guarantee a free poll.
“Chairman Chebukati is a very well-meaning person. He has a temperament to be able to be a leader, but he is a leader under a siege,” she stated.
As news of Dr Akombe’s shock exit spread, the IEBC chairman made a public appearance shortly before 1pm on Wednesday at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi, that hosts the national tallying centre, and bemoaned the exit of Dr Akombe saying: “She was one of our finest and it is sad that we could not provide an environment for such minds to find full expression without fear for their lives.”
Cutting a solitary image, Mr Chebukati made a televised national address in which he confirmed the troubles facing the electoral body including interference from political interests.
“Under such conditions, it is difficult to guarantee free, fair and credible elections. I am convinced that without critical changes in key secretariat staff, we may not have a free, fair and credible election. “I ask the staff who have been adversely mentioned to step aside and allow the project team to function without interference,” he said, referring to a group of managers he recently mandated to manage the October 26 presidential election.
Mr Chebukati’s troubles did not end there. A meeting scheduled for yesterday morning with President Uhuru Kenyatta and his rival candidates in the elections failed to materialise after all parties kept away.
“Kindly be informed that the planned meeting between IEBC and presidential candidates has been adjourned to a later date to be agreed by both parties, we shall communicate the new date in due time,” the commission said in a message to newsrooms.
National Super Alliance leader Raila Odinga had initially agreed to appear before the commission chairperson in person while President Kenyatta had indicated that he would send a representative.
None of the candidates nor their representatives honoured their promises, leaving Mr Chebukati and his team gazing as the clock fast ticks towards the scheduled repeat election.
In his invitation letter, Mr Chebukati had stated: “In my capacity as the chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and the national returning officer, I observe that it is necessary to have a consultative meeting between yourselves and your running mates under the chairmanship of the commission as our country gears up for the fresh presidential election.’’
