IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati on Tuesday said that he is being frustrated by a majority of the commissioners and maintained that under such conditions it is difficult to guarantee free, fair and credible elections.

“I have made several attempts to make critical changes, but all my motions have been defeated by a majority of the commissioners,” Chebukati said in a press conference.

DIVISIONS WITHIN IEBC

The IEBC chair further added that the divisions at the IEBC were weighing him down and making it hard for him to deliver on his mandate.

“The burden placed on me as chair is huge, yet I can’t move forward with a divided commission. I can’t move forward when presidential candidates refuse to put their personal interests aside and for once, serve their country,” he said.

Chebukati, who was addressing the press shortly after Commissioner Rosslyn Akombe announced her resignation, went ahead to call on IEBC staff who have been mentioned to step aside.

“I am convinced that without critical changes in the key secretariat staff, we may not have a free, fair and credible election. I ask the staff who have been adversely mentioned to step aside and allow the project team to function,” he said.

CHEBUKATI ISSUES ULTIMATUM TO RAILA AND UHURU

Chebukati, who had given everyone a scare with his speech as the opening remarks hinted that he was resigning, also went ahead to call for a meeting between Uhuru and Raila, which he said he would chair.

He also asked the presidential candidates to stop intimidating his staff and let him do his job.

“Political and economic problems can’t be fixed through elections or legal mechanisms alone. As the referee of this contest, I am extending an open invitation to the candidates to a meeting that I will preside over so they can talk,” Chebukati said.