IEBC commissioner Justus Nyang'aya leaves his position.
After being suspended by President William Ruto for a few hours, Mr. Justus Nyang'aya has resigned from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Juliana Cherera, vice chair of the IEBC, and Commissioners Nyang'aya, Irene Masit, and Francis Wanderi have all been placed on administrative leave by President Ruto while a tribunal led by Justice Aggrey Muchelule conducts an investigation.
Regarding their choice to reject the presidential results that were utilized to name Dr. Ruto the nation's fifth president, the four have been charged with grave misconduct.
Mr. Nyang'aya claimed in a letter to the President that he made the choice "after fervent prayers and in the best interest of the nation."
The letter dated December 2 adds, "It is with heavy heart that I present my resignation as a commissioner of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission effective today."
"Over the past few weeks, I have heard about serious introspection, and as a man of faith, I have prayed sincerely for wisdom to help me decide what is best for the nation. We all concur that national interests must always take precedence above personal interests, he continued.
Although my acts, made in good faith, have been misinterpreted, I have always "endeavor[ed] to act in the best interest of the country," according to the commissioner.
President Ruto published a gazette notification announcing the tribunal's formation earlier on Friday. Later in the afternoon, at the Supreme Court buildings, the tribunal was sworn in.
Carolyne Kamende Daudi, Linda Gakii Kiome, Mathew Njaramba Nyabena, and Col (Rtd) Saeed Khamis Saeed are additional tribunal members.
The four commissioners of the troubled electoral body demanded an explanation from President Ruto on Tuesday after he labeled them "rogue officials."
The dissident commissioners declined to testify before the National Assembly's Justice and Legal Affairs Committee in a letter written by their attorney Apollo Mboya and delivered to President Ruto (JLAC).
In a report approved by the House on Thursday, the committee recommended their dismissal from office, which the President used as the basis for creating a tribunal.
The tribunal's task will be to look into the claims and to decide whether to remove the four IEBC commissioners from office.
