President Ruto suspends 4 IEBC commissioners with immediate effect

President William Ruto has suspended four IEBC commissioners with immediate effect as per a gazette notice issued on Friday. 

The four are Juliana Cherera, Justus Nyang’aya, Francis Wanderi and Irine Masit.

"Having received and considered the petition of the National Assembly and in exercise of the prerogative vested in the Head of State and Government by Article 251 of the Constitution, I do hereby direct as follows: THAT Cherera, Wanderi, Masit and Nyang’aya, being members of the IEBC, be and are hereby suspended from office with immediate effect," the notice reads.

The National Assembly voted Thursday night to adopt a committee report that recommended their ejection.

This is after the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee confirmed that the four petitions that were seeking the removal of the four met the threshold for them to be kicked out of office.

The President also appointed High Court Judge Aggrey Muchelule to chair a tribunal that will investigate the embattled IEBC Commissioners.

Others appointed to the tribunal as members are Carolyne Kamende Daudi, Linda Gakii Kiome, Mathew Njaramba Nyabena, Col. (Rtd.) Saeed Khamis Saeed as members of the tribunal.

Kibet Kirui Emmanuel, Irene Tunta Nchoe have been appointed joint secretaries.

The tribunal's lead counsel will be Peter Munge Murage who will be assisted by Zamzam Abdi Abib.

"The mandate of the Tribunal shall be to consider the Petition for the removal of Cherera, Wanderi, Masit and Nyang’aya from office as members of IEBC and to inquire into the allegations therein," the President said.