Cherera, Masit reveal why they left the country after elections

By Peter Ochieng

The immediate former Vice Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Juliana Cherera and commissioner Irene Masit on Thursday appeared before the bipartisan committee, over the 2022 presidential contest.

Cherera and Masit who are out of the country appeared before the Kalonzo Musyoka and Kimani Ichung'wah led committee virtually.

They said they had to leave the country, after they were threatened by unknown people.

Cherera said not only her life was in danger, but her children too were not safe.

"My last born is 7 years old. It was bad even in school. Our social life really changed. It was bad for my children and my family. There are certain things we cannot say on camera because it is not a safe space," she stated.

"We have been threatened just because of what we saw and what we know," she added.

On her part, Masit said despite coming from the same community with president William Ruto, she had to run away for her safety.

"I am outside the country for security reasons. I come from Rift Valley and they say that I betrayed the president. I have never gone to my home," she added.

Masit said she had to board a motorbike to the airport at night, after being threatened.

The two said they were forced to resign from the commission after the polls, a statement supported by their former collegues, in the frame of Justus Nyang'aya and Francis Wanderi who appeared physically.

"It was unfair for us to be forced out. We hope the matter will be looked into," said Wanderi.

Likewise, the committee had invited former IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati and former commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye.

They declined the invitation, stating that they were not in a position to speak on the 2022 presidential contest because it was a concluded matter.

Chebukati, Guliye and Molu defended results that declared Ruto winner of the presidential contest, while Cherera, Wanderi, Nyang'aya and Masit opposed.