Joint committee on IEBC strives to complete work ahead of deadline

The Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is racing against time to iron out pending issues ahead of the Sunday midnight deadline.

The committee, which began receiving views on the implementation of electoral reviews last month, has made progress in seeking resolution on weighty matters that had for long drawn a wedge between members affiliated to Jubilee and the Coalitions for Reforms and Democracy (CORD).

With most of the issues including the use of electoral system in the 2017 elections, announcement of presidential results at the constituency level, the only remaining issues is the number of commissioners in the new-look IEBC.

While CORD wants a 7-member committee, Jubilee has insisted on a 9-member committee.

The committee had also agreed on a clean-up of the existing voter register – on condition that it should be carried out by a forensic audit firm of international repute, and another body with international experience and expertise on electoral matters.

CORD last week dropped its hardliner stance of having two representatives from each coalition and a chair picked from the civil society in the IEBC selection panel, agreed to Jubilee’s demand of nine members.

The panel is to be composed of representatives from the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Parliamentary Service Commission, Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Hindu Council, Supkem, Evangelical Alliance of Kenya, Catholic Church and the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK).

Already IEBC commissioners have agreed to vacate officer, on condition of a negotiated agreement, paving way for a new commission that will oversee the 2017 General Election.

Additional reporting by Francis Gachuri