Stop Character Assassination, Obey the Law to Remove IEBC Commissioners – Gladys Shollei to Raila Odinga

Uasin Gishu MP Gladys Shollei has accused Raila Odinga of using his platforms to tarnish the reputation of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chair Wafula Chebukati.

Shollei, who appeared in an interview on KTN News Wednesday night, claimed that there is a legal process by which IEBC commissioners can be removed and that it is unconstitutional to incite public emotion to cause their removal.

“Someone of that political stature (Raila) should know very well that it is not legally their job to decide who runs the elections. There is a format in this country and a law that tells us how to appoint commissioners,” Shollei said.

The woman rep, who was also part of the Kenya Kwanza team at the National Tallying Center in the Bomas of Kenya, claimed Raila was like a cheetah that never changes its seats and called for the resignation of previous Electoral Commission chairs.

She said coalition leader Azimio-One Kenya was known for not accepting election results and pushing for the impeachment of IEBC leaders.

“Unfortunately, Raila never accepted an IEBC chair. Out of [Zaccheaus] Chesoni, Samuel Kivuitu, Ahmed Isaack, until now [Wafula] Chebukati. Even if we get another (IEBC chair), he’s still going to reject it,” Shollei said.

Raila, in a speech in Mombasa on Wednesday, demanded that Chebukati be banned from presiding over the gubernatorial elections in Mombasa and Kakamega on Monday, August 29.

He said there is an active case in court challenging Chebukati’s suitability to chair subsequent elections following the disputed results of the Aug. 9, 2022 presidential election.

“Chebukati’s deputy, Juliana Cherera, should be allowed to preside over the upcoming elections. There is an active legal case against Chebukati and he should therefore disqualify himself from overseeing the elections,” Odinga said while campaigning for Mombasa’s gubernatorial candidate Abdullswamad, Sheriff Nassir.