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Nairobi — Azimio La Umoja A Kenyan lawmaker has protested the move by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to ban Deputy CEO Ruth Kulundu over alleged whistleblowing in the polls.
Led by Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi, MPs called for their reinstatement within the next 48 hours, after which they threatened to take unspecified action against the Wafula Chebukati-led commission.
“We will take some unspecified measures from now on, but measures that will compel them all to comply with the law,” Wandayi said.
Last week, Kulundu received a second Show Cause Letter from IEBC CEO MarjanHussein Marjan.
An earlier one was issued to her on August 29 in response to her alleged misconduct and incorrigible behavior over the past few weeks.
The deputy CEO in charge of operations has been accused of convening a plenary meeting of the commission on August 26 without the approval or delegation of the IEBC CEO.
MP-nominee Sabina Chege pointed out that the move to ban Kulundu was a witch hunt choreographed by Chebukati’s wing in the commission for supporting the four dissenting IEBC commissioners.
“We want the lady’s case to be dealt with fairly, and we are not begging for justice. There’s no way three commissioners out of seven can just decide to let her go. We will not sit and watch women being bullied. ‘ Chege explained.
Azimio La Umoja One Kenyan leaders revealed that Kulundu was instrumental in exposing the rot within the electoral office and that she now carries the cross for revealing the truth within the commission.
“Why are they letting her go, what crime did she commit? If she has stood up for the truth, she cannot fall victim. Will the whistleblowers suffer, we will ever have people standing for the truth,” Chege said.
Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe castigated Chebukati and his commission, saying their actions against Kulundu could only be equated with terrorism.
He insisted that President William Ruto remain true to his words that no act of revenge would be taken against state officials and those working in independent institutions.
“What the IEBC commissioners are doing is nothing short of terrorism as they are simply terrorizing staff. This is the right case for Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to come out and show they are defending the Kenyans,” Wangwe said.
Among the problems Kulundu is accused of is holding a plenary session attended by the four commissioners who opposed Chebukati’s official explanation of the Bomas presidential election.
The deputy CEO is accused of threatening and intimidating Moses Sunkuli over the voter registration and operations, and “instilled in him a sense of fear and insecurity in his life.
Kulundu was appointed Deputy Commission Secretary with responsibility for operations in March 2022, having served as IEBC Regional Elections Coordinator and later Siaya County Elections Officer from 2010 to 2017.
She has 12 years of election management experience.
