Ruto fires IEBC commissioner Masit, declares position vacant
President William Ruto has terminated the appointment of Irene Masit as a commissioner of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), following a tribunal’s recommendation for her removal over gross misconduct.
Masit, who was on suspension, was one of four commissioners who rejected the results of last year’s presidential election, which saw Ruto emerge victorious.
President Ruto stated in a gazette notice on Wednesday that he was acting in accordance with Article 251(6) of the Constitution, which gives him the authority to remove a member of an independent commission following the receipt of a report from a tribunal.
Masit was found guilty of violating the IEBC code of conduct and undermining public trust in the electoral body by a tribunal led by Justice Aggrey Muchelule.
Three other commissioners, Juliana Cherera (former vice chairperson), Francis Wanderi and Justus Nyang’aya – opted to resign rather than face the tribunal.
The four commissioners, dubbed the “Cherera four,” had contested the presidential election outcome, claiming that it was arrived at in an opaque manner by IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati.
Masit’s departure leaves the IEBC with no commissioners, as Chebukati and two other commissioners, Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye, retired on February 14 after their terms expired.