IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati on Wednesday gave the
strongest hint that he was willing to exit from the electoral boy.
In a press statement from the Bomas of Kenyan, Chebukati
confirmed that the IEBC commissioners were sharply divided over the
conduct of the repeat presidential election scheduled for October 26.
The IEBC Chairman started by looking back at his career as a
lawyer, a family man, and as a public officer noting that he would not allow
his legacy to be damaged.
"I will not go down as the Chairman who plunged the
country into a deeper crisis. I cannot move forward with a divided
Commission," Chebukati's statement read in part.
The IEBC Chairman called on the staff who have been
implicated in the electoral irregularities that marred the nullified
presidential election to resign but did not indicate if he would take any
further action to achieve the same.
The IEBC boss explained that despite the political crisis
that had been caused by candidates who have interfered in the internal affairs
of the commission, he would remain firm and oversee the repeat election.
"I have vowed to uphold integrity. The technical
preparations are on course. From an operational angle we're ready.
"I am giving the yellow card to all the leaders in this
country...I will not allow anyone to destroy this country as long as I am the referee
of this election," Chebukati stated.
While lamenting that the current political climate made it
impossible for the IEBC to hold a credible election, the IEBC boss, however,
stated that his commission was 'technically ready' for the October 26 polls.
At the end of his long and rather confounding statement,
Chebukati stated that there were people who were waiting for his resignation
adding that he would not exit.
"I know there were some characters waiting for my
resignation," he remarked as he walked away from the press conference.
