Petition seeking IEBC's disbandment adjourned after petitioner asks for more time

A petition filed in the National Assembly seeking the removal from office of nine members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has been adjourned after the petitioner asked for more time to assemble evidence.

It also emerged that the petition may be combined with a recent audit report on IEBC by the Auditor General Edward Ouko tabled in Parliament last week.

Appearing before Parliament's Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, Wafula Buke said he needed more time to put together as much information as possible to support his petition.

"The documents are fully assembled, and it is not that we don't have them, but I want to make available as much information as possible," Buke told the committee chaired by Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga.

Buke wants the commissioners' removed on grounds of gross violation of the Constitution, and incompetence in the manner they handled the March 2013 elections.

After discussions with committee members, Chepkonga agreed to give Buke time saying, "We will allow you until Wednesday next week to bring the evidence you have, but we will work and proceed within the timelines provided."

However, IEBC has already filed its submission to counter Buke's petition, and is expected to appear Tuesday next week, a day before the petitioner presents his evidence. The audit that sources say may be incorporated in the petition was commissioned by the National Assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and tabled last week.

The report raises questions on the commissioners and the secretariat's conduct. Ouko wants the IEBC to take collective responsibility over the unclear strategy, planning, budgeting and execution of last year's general elections. He said IEBC failed to embrace advice of their ICT director on risks.