Raila Odinga, the leader of one of the Kenya's coalition parties, has spoken out about meetings that lawmakers supporting his presidential campaign had with the four IEBC Commissioners at rented apartments in Nairobi.
The results of the presidential election, which their boss Wafula Chebukati declared on August 15, were repudiated by the four, Juliana Cherera, Irene Masit, Justus Nyang'aya, and Francis Wanderi, who cited "opaqueness" in how they were determined.
They have now resigned, with the exception of Masit, who is appearing before a tribunal designated to rule over the petition proceedings, after petitions were filed questioning their eligibility to hold office after the Supreme Court later affirmed the elections.
It was revealed in last week's proceedings that the Cherera-led faction met top Azimio agents Raphael Tuju and Nick Salat in Kilimani's Yaya Apartments.
The two visited the faction during their four-day stay, according to an apartment manager testifying before the trial, which is presided by by Justice Aggrey Muchelule.
Additionally, it has come to light that one of Mr. Odinga's close associates paid the bill for their stay at the upscale hotel.
Mr. Odinga defended the visits in an exclusive interview with Citizen TV, saying his team was protesting the results Chebukati was to release and wanted to know "the truth" of what was going on.
"Because these commissioners were responding negatively, the politicians had grounds to visit them. Being ex post facto, our people were actually right in wanting to learn the truth. In the interview, which aired on Tuesday night on Citizen TV, Mr. Odinga stated that Mr. Chebukati had already proclaimed the outcome.
The four people who came at the flats hours after Chebukati announced William Ruto as the next president-elect failed to register as visitors, according to Yaya Apartments management, who claims that three units with three-bedroom apartments were reserved previous to their arrival.
The commissioners held a separate press conference at the Serena Hotel right before they arrived at the flats, distancing themselves from the findings.
"They (the visiting Azimio MPs) wanted to know what actually happened. In the so-called tribunal, they are raising too much noise about it, according to Mr. Odinga.
The leader of Azimio also attacked the tribunal that was established by President Ruto and was presided over by Justice Muchelule, calling it unlawful.
"That tribunal itself is illegal, the manner in which it was established, the matter was hurried, and before the bill was even brought before Parliament, the so-called Victor who brought the bill had already condemned the four commissioners as individuals who had caused the country to be in upheaval," he said.
The four commissioners' fates, according to Mr. Odinga, had already been decided when the petition was submitted.
He called the ongoing proceedings a complete "charade" and said Justice Mucheule needs to have his actions investigated.
We were aware that it was a sham and that the tribunal couldn't possibly deliver any justice. Justice Mchelule himself struggles with integrity. The ODM party boss said that his name was brought up during the Akasha trial in the United States.
"He has a large FBI file on him, and he is now the good guy prosecuting the other commissioners? We don't expect any justice from that kind of tribunal since it's a fake.
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