Whereas the country has in the last few years invested heavily in elections, arguing that properly managed polls guarantee stability,The audit ordered by Mr Chebukati following the suspension of Mr Chiloba from office last April revealed there was inflation of costs, turf wars and outright fraud or even dereliction of duty among secretariat staff.
Mr Ezra Chiloba, was sent on compulsory leave as a result of a protracted battle involving five tenders for last year’s General Election.
Mr Chiloba claimed that he and Mr Chebukati had differences on issues such as assignment of duties to staff, the procurement of the Kiems kits and ballot papers, in addition to the way last year’s presidential elections were conducted.
The report also revealed the elections were a gravy train for officials at the commission.
The report clearly reveals that there are two centres of power and that Mr Chiloba saw himself as the ultimate authority.
Chairman Wafula Chebukati said that the official was found to have acted in violation of sections of his contractual obligations.
Mr Chebukati was responding to an application filed by Mr Chiloba who wanted the IEBC boss and the other two commissioners, Mr Boya Molu and Mr Abdi Guliye, jailed for contempt of court.
The court had issued orders that Mr Chiloba be reinstated pending the hearing of the application.
presented the report in court to justify his refusal to allow the chief executive to resume his duties.
The way the former IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba is barking in Parliament he seems to be working for higher powers in government. A brother got balls.
— Cyprian Nyakundi Escobar (@CisNyakundi) November 29, 2018
Mr Chebukati cited Chiloba’s failure to implement various Commission/Board decisions and resolutions as among the reasons for the sacking.
“In tandem with fair administrative action, the Commission subsequently invited Chiloba to appear before the Disciplinary Committee so as to provide responses to the charges leveled against him. He, however, twice failed to honor the summons.”
“Chiloba’s gross misconduct, breach and violation of the Commission’s Human Resource and Administration policies as well as other relevant legislation left the Commission with no option other than to terminate his employment contract,” the chairman said.
He cited contraventions of the IEBC Act, Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), and Public Procurement and Disposal Act.
For his part, Chiloba maintained his innocence saying his sacking was just a hallmark of a dysfunctional electoral agency, warning that the issues he faced will affect the next officer if not addressed.
“The matter of my disciplinary process revealed a major governance crisis at the IEBC.”