The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman, Wafula Chebukati, has been sued by two NGOs over what they termed as the unlawful locking out of the three commissioners who resigned a few months.
The two lobby groups identified as the International Human Rights Defenders (IHRD) and Carewell Society, have accused the chairman of denying the three former commissioners access to their offices, despite their re-admittance.
According to the NGOs, commissioners Paul Kurgat, Connie Maina and Margaret Mwanchama, whose term at the IEBC is six years - according to the laws stated in the 2010 constitution- can only be removed from office in accordance with the defined constitutional procedures.
The three commissioners stepped down in April following what political analysts viewed as political pressure from the top political architects in the country.
A week ago, the IEBC chair barred the three commissioners from accessing their offices when they decided to return to the commission. In a media presser, the stern-speaking Chebukati said that there's no room for former commissioners who had voluntarily resigned form the commission.
According to the court submissions, the petitioners argue that the IEBC chair is not the employer of the commissioners and ejecting them from office compromises public interest in favour of personal interest.
The two lobby groups now want Chebukati compelled to allow the commissioners access to the offices pending determination of the case filed.