A storm is brewing at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) after Chairman Wafula Chebukati put CEO Ezra Chiloba on the spot.
Chebukati in a 12-point memo that has caused friction in the commission directed Chiloba to explain why there were irregularities in the August 8 polls that led to its nullification.
In the explosive memo, Chebukati seeks answers as to why his account was used to undertake 9,934 transactions in the IEBC server without his knowledge and consent.
He also wants to know why some election result forms lacked security features.
Also, why the Secretariat purchased satellite phones that failed to work and why 595 polling stations did not send Presidential election results at the national tallying centre.
Further, why 682 polling centres had the same number of rejected votes and what could have happened with the KIEMS kits when 10,336 polling stations sent text results without accompanying Forms 34As.
The memo which was leaked to the media has been the source of infighting in the commission and caused sharp division between its commissioners and Chebukati.
On Thursday, five commissioners led by Vice Chair Consolata Maina, Margaret Mwachanya, Abdi Guliye, Boya Molu and Paul Kurgat dismissed the memo.
They said there was no consultation sine they did not meet as a plenary and that some of the issues raised by Chebukati were false.
“A quick perusal of the memo shows the allegations are based on some report or information that has not been brought to the attention of the Commission,” they said in a statement as the Star quotes.
They added: “Most of the issues raised are not factual and could easily mislead if taken out of context. However, the Secretariat is reviewing the issues and will prepare appropriate responses to be presented to the Commission Plenary.”
But Dr. Kurgat later distanced himself from the statement saying he was away when it was made by his other four colleagues.
Dr. Rosleyn Akombe is the only commissioner who supports Chebukati.
Top officials at the poll agency have declined to resign leaving the Chairman and the CEO grappling with a frosty relationship 38 days to repeat polls.
The strained relationship between the commission and the Secretariat led Chebukati to appointing a 6-member team to steer October 17 repeat polls. In his lineup, he sidelined Chiloba and other members of the Secretariat.