IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati at a past event. [Photo: The Standard]
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has put on a brave face after Friday's court ruling that declared the electoral agency cannot alter the presidential election results announced by its returning officers in constituencies.
Chairman Wafula Chebukati said they do not consider the Appeal court’s ruling a blow, adding that they don’t regret their decision to appeal.
He said the ruling that stayed an earlier one by the High Court, is not a win or lose situation but a clarification process for the commission.
“We did not go to the Court of Appeal to win or lose, what we were seeking was an interpretation of Article 138 of the Constitution. We shall go through the long judgment and see areas that the Court of Appeal has clarified,” Chebukati said while speaking at a Nairobi hotel on Friday.
“So for us, it’s not a win or loss situation but the clarification, we shall study the judgement and issue a comprehensive statement.”
National Super Alliance (NASA) presidential candidate Raila Odinga hailed the court's decision claiming their rival, Jubilee Party, was opposed to the ruling as it plans to engage in election malpractices in August.
"Now that the court has agreed with us, the reign of Jubilee has been brought to a halt. They are headed home," Raila said on Friday when the Opposition alliance took their campaigns to Bungoma County.
The Opposition had put the commission under pressure to withdraw the appeal arguing that giving the IEBC chairman power to alter presidential election results will lead to rigging.