By Joshua Cheloti

A section of IEBC commissioners wanted August 9, 2022, presidential election results moderated, immediate former chairman Wafula Chebukati has said.

Appearing before a tribunal investigating four IEBC commissioners, Chebukati said the four were pushing for the moderation of the results in favour of Azimio candidate Raila Odinga.

He noted that they wanted the difference between Raila and Kenya Kwanza’s William Ruto removed so that there is a run-off – something he said was against the law.

“The difference between the two leading candidates was about 233,000 and they said is that we should consider removing the 233,0000 so that we have a runoff,” Chebukati told the Aggrey Muchelule-led tribunal on January 24, 2023.

But when his lawyer asked whether the law allowed moderation of the presidential results, the former IEBC said it did not.

“The law is very clear that results announced at polling stations are final,” he responded.

Chebukati further said IEBC commissioner Irene Masit was among the four that wanted to force a runoff.

Others were former Vice chairperson Juliana Cherera, Justus Nyang’aya and Francis Wanderi, all of who have since resigned.

They handed in their resignation in December 2022, days after President William Ruto formed a tribunal to investigate them.

The tribunal was set up after the National Assembly approved the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee report that recommended investigations of the four, over their role in the August 9 poll.

They have been accused by at least two petitioners, of taking political sides in the general election.

But while three IEBC commissioners opted to resign rather than face a tribunal, Irene Masit choose to face the tribunal.

She is being presented by lawyer Donald Kipkorir.

Aside from accusing Masit and the other three commissioners of seeking moderation of presidential results, Chebukati also claimed top government officials and Azimio-allied politicians led by former Jubilee Secretary General Rafael Tuju and former Busia Senator Amos Wako also wanted the same.

“The first speaker was Amos Wako who said that we should not operate in a vacuum and we should look at the bigger picture for the country when you reach this kind of situation you can moderate results and achieve stability of the country,” Chebukati said.