The Chairperson of Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Wafula Chebukati, yesterday announced the suspension of the commission’s Chief Executive, Ezra Chiloba.
“The commission’s plenary meeting held on Friday, April 6 received and discussed an audit report on some procurement matters. Subsequently, it was decided through a majority voting to expand audit scope and that the CEO proceeds on compulsory leave for a period of three months to enable conclusion of the audit,” Chebukati said in a press statement.
He added that the suspension is part of the commission’s oversight role to safeguard public resources.
Chiloba, who was suspended to pave way for an audit by the Office of the Auditor-General, said that he did not attend the meeting and since he was out of the office he had not seen the letter.
“I received an email this morning, which was sent on Saturday night, saying the plenary met and resolved that I take a three-month compulsory leave so that IEBC undertakes an audit on the procurement for election materials,” he said to the Daily Nation.
Chiloba had taken leave in October 2017, amid speculation that he disagreed with Chebukati over the nullification of the 2017 presidential election and accusation by the opposition that the commission mismanaged the polls.
The suspension widens the split within the commission as it faces one of the challenging times including a case legal fees in the 2013 Kenyan elections.
