Tears and anger as IEBC commissioners fight to save jobs

NAIROBI: Emotions ran high at a joint committee of the National Assembly as nine electoral commissioners fought to save their jobs.

Tears and angry exchanges marred the proceedings at Parliament Buildings looking into a petition for the removal of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners.

Yusuf Nzibo broke down as he sought to clear his name over claims he was involved in the Chickengate scandal, in which the commission is alleged to have awarded a lucrative contract to a UK firm under dubious circumstances.

"It has destroyed both my reputation and that of my family. I have had a very distinguished reputation," said Nzibo.

Moments later, Commission Chair Issack Hassan got into a fierce exchange with Justice and Legal Affairs Committee Chairman Samuel Chepkonga (Ainabkoi), after he suggested the committee had a pre-determined mind set on a report by Auditor General Edward Ouko, which implicated the commissioners in procurement malpractices during the last General Election.

Mr Hassan termed Mr Ouko 'a liar' before accusing the team of swallowing the contents of the report without verifying their authenticity.

• .

  Keep Reading

• 
  Bill on IEBC to be ready next week, says Parliament
• 
  IEBC to ODM: Our hands are tied over deputy governor post
• 
  Suspect narrates chilling details in case on serial women murders
• 
  This is the right time for Kenya to fix its broken electoral system

He proceeded to angrily claim the committee was prosecuting the petition on behalf of the petitioner, Barasa Nyukuri.

"He (Ouko) is a liar. You are treating what he is saying as if it is gospel truth. We cannot sit here and listen to you repeating the same lies," said Hassan, as he fought back claims IEBC was an accessory to the loss of over Sh4 billion in taxpayer funds in the procurement of Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits in the last polls.

Chepkonga said Hassan had arrogated himself the role of directing the House team on how to conduct its work. "It is not for you to tell this committee what it is supposed to do. You are here because a petition was bought to us. You have to respond to the petition.

"You have no right to get annoyed and angry. Present your information in a manner that is acceptable to all. We will not allow people to be cantankerous," said Chepkonga, whose committee is considering the petition jointly with the Constitutional Oversight Implementation Committee.

Others who appeared before the teams were Lilian Mahiri-Zaja, Thomas Letangule, Mohammed Alawi, Abdullahi Sharawe, Albert Onyango Bwire, Kule Galma Godana and Muthoni Wangai.