IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati alongside CEO Ezra Chiloba. [Photo|The star]
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has been taken to court for allegedly failing to pay Sh150 million shillings for advertising and publicity services rendered during the 2013 General Election.
Transcend Media Group Limited wants the electoral body to make the full payment failure to which the IEBC Chief Executive Officer, Ezra Chiloba should be jailed for a period of six months.“In default of the said payment, IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba or the person for the time being occupying the office of CEO do show cause why he should not be fined or committed to civil jail for a period of six(6)months,” reads the court documents.According to the court files, the media company claims that in 2014 it filed a case seeking the payment of Ksh.198,787,892.40 from IEBC for media services rendered to it in respect to the March 2013 General election.Upon full trial, the court rendered its judgment on July 20, July 2017 in which Transcend Media Group Limited was awarded Sh150,367,882.40 as cost and interest at court rates.Trascend claims that the IEBC has adamantly refused and failed to settle the debt.“The ex-parte is being denied or delayed from enjoying the fruits and benefits of its judgment and interest and other charges continue to escalate to alarming levels at the rate of 1,750,000 shillings every month,” reads the court documents.In an affidavit, the company’s director, Lai Muthoka, argues that it is only fair that IEBC is compelled to pay the decretal sum. Muthoka claims that 21 days have since elapsed after IEBC was served with the Decree and Certificate of costs on 15th August 2017, but IEBC persists in such refusal to pay.