Has Ezra Chiloba been fired?

IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has dismissed rumours that its Chief Executive Officer Ezra Chiloba has been fired.

The rumours cropped up after Friday’s Supreme Court ruling that nullified President Uhuru Kenyatta’s win in the August 8 polls, citing irregularities on the Commission’s part.

Word was that IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba and his deputy Betty Nyabuto, ICT Manager James Muhati were among top IEBC officials sent on compulsory leave by the electoral commission.

IEBC however said the talk was mere gossip and fake news.

“We are faced with another spell of fake news. Kindly ignore story on purported staff changes at the Commission. We tell it when there is,” read a tweet on IEBC’s handle.

Over the weekend, IEBC was also faced with another bout of fake news purporting that some of the commission’s staff were involved in a fist fight over leaked passwords.

The Commission also addressed this via social media, tweeting:  

Fresh election

The Supreme Court had also directed IEBC to supervise the repeat presidential polls within 60 days.

IEBC on Monday declared October 17 as the date of the fresh election and that only National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga and Jubilee Party Leader Uhuru Kenyatta would go head to head at the ballot.

The announcement was met with protests from the NASA team which threatened to boycott the election claiming IEBC did not consult stakeholders before making the decision. 

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i had requested IEBC to hold the election at least a week before October 17 to enable students have ample time to prepare for the national exams, KCPE and KCSE.

Thirdway Alliance leader and  August 2017 presidential candidate  Ekuru Aukot has also said he will petition IEBC’s decision to lockout the other presidential candidates. Abduba Dida who was also running for president in August said he would support Raila in the fresh election.