High Court Bars IEBC From Firing Deputy CEO

The Employment and Labour Relations Court has suspended the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) decision to interdict deputy chief executive officer, Ruth Kulundu.

In an order issued on Friday, Kulundu was directed to continue with her duties until the matter is heard and determined.

Justice Jacob Gakeri who is handling the matter has since given the nod for the case to be treated as an urgent one that needs to be heard and determined promptly.

Kulundu was interdicted by CEO, Hussein Marjan, following allegations that she assisted the four dissenting commissioners in the presidential petition.

An undated image of IEBC Deputy Commissioner Secretary Ruth Kulundu (leftt) with IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati in a past event

FILE

According to the letter authored by Marjan- Kulundu was accused of convening a meeting with the commission's vice chairperson, Juliana Cherera, and the other three commissioners behind the back of the CEO.

The decision, however, saw Azimio la Umoja legislators protest outside the commission's headquarters at Anniversary Towers.

Members of Parliament affiliated with the coalition and members of the Bunge la Wananchi demonstrated outside the commission’s base against what they termed as which hunt against Kulundu.

The MPs led by Ruaraka legislator TJ Kajwang accused the commission’s chair Wafula Chebukati and CEO Marjan of intimidating the Deputy CEO for refusing to conform to their demands.

Police intervened and dispersed the opposition, hurling teargases at a section of the demonstrating crowd.

However, the group of Azimo Azimio MPs maintained that the allegations lacked substantive grounds and as such the interdiction was unfair.

"Kulundu has been accused of arranging an illegal plenary meeting and one wonders who were the attendees of the meeting. This concerned officer must be accorded a fair hearing which begins with responding to a show cause notice," TJ Kajwang posed during the demonstrations.