[Wafula Chebukati in a past event. He could be making tough decisions in few days time ahead of presidential repeat polls. Photo/Nation]
Embattled IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati may be forced to make career threatening decisions even as the country prepares for controversial presidential repeat polls.
With divisions within the commission evident through his own narration, Chebukati has admitted that he may not be able to deliver free and fair polls.
One of the major decisions he may be forced to make is resignation from the commission, a move that could create a constitutional crisis should President Uhuru Kenyatta delay in signing newly amended election laws.
“He may resign if he believes that the integrity of the elections is at stake. This will lead to formation of a caretaker government since we will not be having a National Returning Officer,” says lawyer Moseti Moseti.
To ensure the constitutional uncertainty is resolved, Moseti says:” Alternatively, he can move to Supreme Court to ask for more time to conduct a credible election.”
But the chairman will also have an option to ignore the political temperature and proceed with elections, a battle that could see yet another Supreme Court case by interested parties.
“If he goes on with the elections, interested parties can file petitions in Supreme Court and I think he is worried that the results could be annulled like that of August,” adds Moseti.
Already, Roselyne Akombe, an outspoken commissioner has bolted out of the electoral body citing ‘political interferences’ and death threats.
Tension has built across the country after the unexpected withdrawal of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s main challenger, Raila Odinga, who accuses IEBC of bungling August polls.