Juliana Cherera, IEBC Chairperson, to appear before MPs over a petition seeking her removal.

Juliana Cherera, Vice-Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), and three commissioners began their defense Monday against petitions filed by four Kenyans demanding their removal from office for serious misconduct and violations of the Constitution.

On August 15, the Cherera group withdrew to the Serena Hotel from the Bomas of Kenya, the national tallying center, where they said that IEBC chairwoman Wafula Chebukati would declare presidential results that were ‘opaque and unverifiable.’

Last Monday, the National Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs Committee completed receiving evidence from four petitioners requesting that President William Ruto establish a tribunal to investigate claims of subversion and incompetence.

Lawmakers from Raila Odinga’s Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition and lawyers representing the electoral commission’s four commissioners walked out, questioning the committee’s power to consider such a plea.

Other constitutional procedures, such as submitting a complaint with the IEBC and the Public Service Commission, were not explored, according to Danstan Omari and Jotham Arwa.