President Kenyatta declares vacancies at IEBC to replace 4 Commissioners who resigned

President Uhuru Kenyatta has officially declared vacancies in the positions of four IEBC commissioners who left office during the last electioneering period.

The four include; Vice Chairperson Consolata Nkatha, commissioners Margaret Mwachanya, Paul Kurgat and Roselyn Akombe.

In a Gazette Notice dated April 14, 2021 the President states: “IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by section 7A (2) of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act. 2011. I. Uhuru Kenyatta, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, declare vacancies in the positions of four members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.”

Vice Chairperson Consolata Nkatha, commissioners Margaret Mwachanya and Paul Kurgat, resigned in a joint press conference at a Nairobi hotel on April 16, 2018 citing lack of confidence in the commission chairman Wafula Chebukati.

On the other hand Roselyn Akombe fled the country and announced her resignation while abroad on October 18, 2017 — barely a week to the presidential election re-run — saying the commission could not guarantee a credible election and that she felt unsafe serving at the IEBC.

This left IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati and with only two commissioners; Boya Molu and Abdi Yakub Goliye.

Despite publicly announcing their exit from IEBC, the four commissioners were assumed to be still in office until they officially tendered their resignations to the President as required by law.