IEBC Commissioner Abdi Guliye has filed his petition response at the Supreme Court revealing how unsuccessful actors attempted to rig the presidential election results.
In his response to the petition by Azimio leaders Raila Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua, Guliye gives a detailed account of the events that happened at the National tallying center at Bomas in the just concluded elections.
The commissioner states that while the tallying and verification of the presidential election results were going he was shocked to learn that some people were willing to sabotage the will of the people and had the audacity to request the commission to come to their aid to achieve such reprehensible desires.
He reveals that on August 13, the IEBC chairman informed him that Hon. Raphael Tuju and Governor Charity Ngilu sought audience with him protesting about the fast-tracking of the verification process as agreed with agents of the presidential candidates.
"It is unclear why a faster conclusion of the process seemed to bother them," the commissioner states.
He adds that at about 3 am on the morning of August 15, 2022, Chebukati was visited by Raphael Tuju, Senator Amos Wako and Advocate Kyalo Mbobu.
"The Chairperson called all the commissioners to join him to engage the visitors. When all the commissioners arrived, the meeting commenced by Chebukati by inviting the visitors to state their issues. Senator Wako indicated that they had come to ask the commission not to operate 'in a vacuum' and that it must consider the link between the election results to be declared and the stability of the country which he described as " the bigger picture"," Guliye states in his affidavit.
The commission adds that Senator Wako proceeded to indicate that during his term as the former Attorney General he also served as the election supervisor and in that capacity, he would moderate results guided by the need to achieve law and stability.
"Hon. Raphael Tuju spoke after Senator Wako. He indicated that it was necessary for the results to be ' moderated in the favour of baba' and that any contrary declaration of results would would 'plunge the country into chaos. As an alternative, he suggested that in the event that it was not possible to declare 'baba' as the president-elect, the commission should force a run-off. He indicated that should his request be granted, it would be adequately rewarded, " he adds.
He adds that follows the request by Wako and Tuju the four "rebel" commissioners Led by vice- chairperson Juliana Cherera, Justus Ngang'aya, Irene Masit, and Francis Wanderi agreed with the remarks
In his 18-page response, Guliye also claims in the petition that IEBC Vice-chair Juliana Cherera was pushing for slashing of President-elect William Ruto's votes by at least 233,211 to force a re-run.
"Commissioner Masit and Wanderi were of the view that the results should be pushed towards a re-run, which in their view would be a win-win situation to which l exclaimed " how? ". Vice-chair Cherera suggested that the margin is not too big and could be manipulated by moving 233,211 votes from Him. Ruto to the rejected ballots category, " Guliye's petition response reads further.
