President William Ruto has fired Irene Masit as a commissioner of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Masit’s termination from the electoral commission takes effect immediately.
The head of state made this decision following recommendations by the tribunal which was formed to consider the petition for removal of Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Masit and Justus Nyang’aya from office
The tribunal recommended that Masit be ousted as a commissioner of the IEBC.
Moreover, in a gazette notice on Wednesday, March 1, the head of state said that the list of gross violations of the constitution by Masit, as enumerated in the report of the Tribunal, meets the required threshold to have her removed from office.
“The appointment and tenure in office of Irene Cherop Masit as a member of the IEBC be and is terminated with immediate effect,” said the President.
The president further announced that her former position in the electoral body was now officially vacant.
Also Read: Ruto’s Tribunal Recommends Sacking of Commissioner Irene Masit from IEBC
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 7 (A) 1 C of the IEBC Act 2011, I William Samoei Ruto President and Commander in Chief of the Kenya Defense Forces declare a vacancy in the position of the sixth member of the IEBC,” he stated.
Likewise, in the report presented to president Ruto last month, the tribunal reported that allegations of gross misconduct levelled against Commissioner Masit were proved to the required standard.
“Now therefore, this Tribunal recommends to Your Excellency, the President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander in Chief of the Defence Forces, pursuant to the mandate assigned vide Gazette Notice No. 14890 of 2nd December 2022, and further in accordance and in compliance with Article 251(1) and (6) that Commissioner Irene Cherop Masit be removed from office as a member of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.” The report reads in part.
Nonetheless, Irene Masit can file an appeal at the High Court if she is aggrieved by the tribunal’s decision.
However, if the tribunal’s decision holds, the constitution bars Masit from holding any public office
