Juliana Whonge Cherera[1][2] was the Vice Chair[3] at Kenya's Electoral agency IEBC until her resignation[4] on 5th Dec 2022. She became a public subject in Kenya in mid-August 2022 after leading three other commissioners Francis Wanderi, Irene Masit, and Justus Nyang’aya in disowning the 2022 Kenyan general election results read out by Chair Wafula Chebukati terming them to be 'opaque'.[5][6] The Cherera Four were Dissenting Members. They had a right under Article 17 to request a postponement of the announcement of the results, given that the commission was still within the legal time limits. Commonly referred to as The Cherera Four, history will record that they saw themselves as referees who just wanted the right things to be done right and hence earned no friends on either side of the political divide.
Juliana Whonge Cherera | |
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Born | Mombasa, Kenya | 26 August 1976
Alma mater | |
Known for | disowning the 2022 Kenyan general election results announced by the Chairman |
Title | Vice Chair, IEBC |
Career
editShe previously served as the Chief Executive in the Strategic Delivery Unit of the Mombasa County Government, where she had served as Secretary in different portfolios. Before taking up the county jobs, Juliana worked as an Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teacher.[7] After University College Cherera to the teacher in primary school because that level of education was devolved. In her estimation, the counties would need university-educated talent to manage and deliver excellent education programs.
She was appointed a commissioner at the IEBC on 2 September 2021[8] by former President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta. She was sworn in 12 days later by Chief Justice Martha Koome at the Supreme Court in Nairobi.
Weeks later, she was unanimously elected as the Vice Chair.[9] She resigned[10][11] from the position on 5 December 2022 days after she, and three others, had been suspended[12] by Kenya's President William Ruto.[13] Post IEBC, Mrs. Cherera has been out of the spotlight and told friends she is seeking a quiet place to think and reflect. She is looking to organize former commissioners to work on a white paper regarding the administrative and legal electoral reforms and structures necessary to improve the credibility of elections in Kenya and Africa. The Consortium of Ex-Commisioners hopes to harness the tremendous experiential resource asset that is domiciled in the ex-commissioners in Electoral Management Bodies to bring well-thought-out reforms that will help avoid repeated mistrust in Election results and strengthen Democracy in Kenya and Africa. They also want to mitigate the current narrative that Electoral Bodies are career killers in Africa to attract and keep talent.
Education
editShe attained a Bachelor of Arts (Education) from Kenyatta University with a specialization in Geography and Kiswahili and is a holder of a Master of Education in Leadership and Educational Management from KEMU. She also studied Project Management at the Kenya Institute of Management, Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) at KNEC, and Strategic Leadership and Development Program at the Kenya School of Government. She is a member of the Kenya Devolution Support Program Committee.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ Citizen Digital, 16 Aug 2022 Who Is IEBC Vice-Chairperson Juliana Cherera?
- ^ The-Star, 17 Aug 2022 Get to know IEBC vice chairperson Juliana Cherera
- ^ The Standard, Sep 2021 Juliana Cherera elected IEBC Vice-Chairperson
- ^ Nation, 5 Dec 2022 Juliana Cherera resigns as IEBC vice chair days after Ruto’s suspension
- ^ Kenyans, 16 Aug 2022 IEBC Vice Chair Juliana Cherera Explains
- ^ Nation Africa, 17 Aug 2022 Juliana Cherera butt of jokes in online math debate
- ^ Kenyans, 16 August 2022 Juliana Cherera: Ex-Primary School Teacher who Rose to Top IEBC Post
- ^ Hapa Kenya, 3 September 2021 President Uhuru Kenyatta appoints 4 IEBC Commissioners
- ^ Metropol TV, 15 September 2021 IEBC picks Juliana Cherera as Vice Chairperson
- ^ The-Star, 5 December 2022 Cherera resigns as IEBC commissioner, vice chair
- ^ The Standard, 5 December 2022 Juliana Cherera resigns as IEBC vice-chairperson
- ^ Nation, 1 December 2022 House team recommends removal of 'Cherera Four' from IEBC
- ^ The Standard, 3 December 2022 President Ruto suspends Juliana Cherera, three other IEBC commissioners