Cherera: Chebukati ran commission like a 'one-person show'

In her replying affidavit following the presidential election petition filed by Azimio coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga and running mate Martha Karua, and in which she is listed as the fifth respondent, Cherera accused Chebukati of “unilaterally undertaking the transfer of returning officers without consulting fellow commissioners”.

She went ahead to accuse Chebukati of failing to convene meetings to appraise commissioners on implementation of the recommendations in the report of the Independent Audit of the Register of Voters by KPMG.

Cherera said that despite there only being required to have one Form 34A to be used for recording the presidential results at the polling centres, she and fellow commissioner, Francis Wanderi were informed that orders had been given for the printing of two sets of Forms 34A.

She said she made this realization upon her visi to Lykos (Hellas) SA, the printing contractor, in Greece.

She accused Chebukati of hurrying through the procurement of election materials before the commission was fully constituted in September 2021.

Cherera said, “…the chairperson mistakenly turned the commission into a one-person show and in the process, effectively subverted the constitution and election laws.”