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Irene Masit, the only one among “Cherera 4” who is still in office


Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is again in the headlines following the resignations of the commissioners who are currently under fire from the state.

The recent commissioner to tender in their resignation is Francis Wanderi, who says that his decision has been necessitated “by undue and unwarranted public lynching based on falsified information, tainting my reputation and integrity”.

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Mr Wanderi, former IEBC Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera, Justus Nyang’aya, and Irene Masitt have been trending since the August election, whereby they were allegedly accused of taking sides and attempting to divert the will of the people regarding the presidential results.

In his letter dated December 7, Mr Wanderi said that the voting process was lauded as seamless and transparent by Kenyans and international observer groups, only for them to be crucified for practising their constitutional rights.

“The same election birthed the so-called “Cherera 4 Commissioners” who exercised their right to express themselves on last-minute decisions of the Chairperson that amounted to lack of transparency, and whose conduct was also characterised by high-handedness, dictatorial mannerisms, and devoid of the principles of good corporate governance,” part of the letter reads.

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He added that the country is more important than any individual.

“I also do so noting that unless the governance issues within the Commission are addressed, my resignation and that of my colleagues, or the removal process of the “Cherera 4” from the Commission will not help the country achieve its democratic and electoral reform aspirations.”

His resignation, now leaves Commissioner in office from the Cherera four, following the resignation of Ms Cherera, and Nyang’aya.

Their resignation comes amid the tribunal formed by President William Ruto to probe the alleged misconduct of the four commissioners.

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The four had been suspended by the president following the recommendations from the National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC).

The suspension was to pave the way for the tribunal headed by the High Court Judge Aggrey Muchelule, who was to investigate and report any constitutional violations or “gross misconduct” they may have committed.

Ms Masit and the three commissioners were appointed by former president Uhuru Kenyatta in September 2021 to join the electoral body.

About Irene Masit

Ms Masit holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Human Resource Management from the University of Manchester in the UK, a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Nairobi, a Bachelor of Arts degree in social work from the University of Nairobi, and she is a Post Graduate Dip from Kenya School of Law.

She has over 25 years of work experience, and knowledge in Government and Non – Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and was the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF) board member before joining the electoral body.

Also, Masit has knowledge and experience in Finance, Governance, Management and Public Administration, and she chairs the Legal, Compliance and Political Party Liaison Committee and the Leadership and Integrity Committee.

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