Irene Masit breaks silence after skipping hearings by tribunal probing ‘Cherera 4’

Embattled IEBC commissioner Irene Masit has broken her silence after skipping Tuesday and Wednesday’s sessions where she was expected before the tribunal probing her and three other commissioners who have since resigned.

The suspended commissioner, alongside former Vice Chair Juliana Cherera alongside ex-commissioners Justus Nyang’aya and Francis Wanderi, are being probed over their conduct after they disputed the presidential election results declared by the IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati in August.

Hearings against Masit, who is the only one of the now labeled ‘Cherera four’ who has not resigned, entered the second day on Wednesday.

However, she did not show up, instead sending her lawyer Donald Kipkorir to appear before the Justice Aggrey Muchelule-led team. This is despite having confirmed that she would appear before the tribunal on Tuesday.

Speaking exclusively to Citizen Digital on Wednesday, Masit said she decided to skip the appearances to avoid exposing herself to “unforeseen eventualities.”

Masit claimed her fears stemmed from the fact that her security detail had not been restored since her suspension.

“I didn’t appear yesterday and even today since my security detail had not been restored by then and don’t want to expose myself to unforeseen eventualities,” she said.

“If my security is restored anytime, I will for sure appear before the tribunal.”

During Tuesday’s session, the team listened to one of the petitioners, Dennis Nthumbi, who faults Masit and her former colleagues for disputing the presidential election results.

Masit’s lawyer Kipkorir put Nthumbi to task to explain the specific contraventions of the law committed by the commissioner. 

In his view, the shape and stature of the petition had evolved since it was filed in Parliament.

He argued that in the filings before the tribunal, there were more materials to the disadvantage of Masit and that the tribunal should have struck out the extra documents.

The objection was however thrown out by Justice Aggrey Muchelule. 

The tribunal hearings on Wednesday resumed with the continuation of cases by three other petitioners. 

Mr Chebukati alongside IEBC commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu were lined up to testify against Masit.

The tribunal is also expected to summon the management of two city facilities, the Serena Hotel and Yaya Towers, which are said to have hosted the four on days around the election.