The resignation of three Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioner's on Monday has once again put a spotlight on the Wafula Chebukati led electoral commission months after last year's controversial presidential election.
The polls agency has been under the spotlight with opposition leaders often alleging that it is not independent.
In the run up to last year’s general election, opposition leader's led by Raila Odinga raised grave issues claimng that the commission was allegedly compromised and could not guarantee fair and credible polls.
The opposition successfully filed several suits against the Wafula Chebuakti led commission questioning it's preparedness and especially on matters relating to tendering of election material.
Despite the opposition concerns, the IEBC assured the country of its ability to oversee last year's August 8 general election.
The IEBC found itself under a hard rock after the opposition contested the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The opposition alleged that the polls agency had manipulated and cooked result's to declare Uhuru the winner.
The opposition claimed that Uhuru did not win the election and that it was Raila who had won.
The confrontations culminated and landed at the Supreme Court as Raila contested Uhuru’s re- election.
In the Supreme court case, the opposition accused the IEBC of failing to adhere to the law in conducting the presidential election.
On September 1, 2017, the Supreme court Judges led by Chief Justice David Maraga nullified Uhuru’s re-election and declared it null and void.
The court then ordered the IEBC to conduct fresh presidential eelciton in 60 days.
The ruling opened more confrontations between the IEBC, the government, and the opposition.
The opposition demanded a raft of changes at the poll's agency including the resignation of CEO Ezra Chiloba and other commissioner's.
The opposition accused Chiloba of allegedly bungling the August 8 presidential poll.
Days to the October 26 repeat polls, IEBC Commissioner Roslyne Akombe shockingly resigned.
Akombe cited various reason's among them that the IEBC was not independent and could not guarantee fair repeat presidential election.
Opposition presidential candidate Raila Odinga also withdrew from the repeat presidential election.
Pressure continued to mount on Chebukati to resign and call off the repeat presidential poll.
Chebukati, however, stood firm assuring the country of the commission ability to conduct fair repeat presidential poll.
On October 26, the IEBC conducted the repeat presidential election that was widely boycotted by million's of Kenyans.
Chebukati after the repeat poll's declared president Uhuru Kneyatta the winner.
He was again under criticism for declaring Uhuru the winner yet some region's had not voted in the repeat polls.
A section fo civil rights groups and individual politicians petitioned Uhuru’s win in Supreme court but this time round the Chief Justice David Maraga led court dismissed the petition ruling that Uhuru was validly elected.
Chebukati received a sigh of relief as even as opponents vowed to continue the push for fresh elections.
On January 30, Raila was sworn in as the people's an act the government had termed illegal and highly treasonous.
The IEBC dismissed Raila's swearing-in terming it illegal with no constitutional backing.
In March 2018, the IEBC found itself in trouble after the Auditor General raised audit queries on the procurement tenders for poll materials where million's fo shillings was allegedly lost.
The tender issues forced Chebukati to send Chiloba on compulsory leave in order to pave way for investigations.
Last week, Chiloba’s push to be reinstated back to work failed as the Labour and Industrial court okayed Chebukati’s move to suspend him.
Now with the resignation of IEBC Vice Chairperson Consolata Nkatha Maina, commissioner's Margret Mwachanya and Paul Kurgat, Chebuakti is left in an awkward situation.
The three commissioner's in their resignation accuses Chebukati of failing to provide leadership at the polls agency.
Already a section of politicians allied to the opposition is demanding for Chebukati's resignation even as the IEBC boss claims that he is not aware of the resignation of the three commissioner's.