Mercy Mwai and Peter Leshan @PeopleDailyKe
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has set yet another debate rolling after he proposed that commissioners serving in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) should serve on part-time basis.
Muturi said there is need for amendments to the IEBC Act to effect the changes and strengthen the commission. The move will ensure the secretariat works independently, and devoid of influence by the commissioners who may be prone to political patronage.
In an interview with the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), Muturi also called for thorough scrutiny of all the existing electoral laws ahead of next year’s General Election. During a meeting with reporters last June, Muturi proposed that IEBC commissioners be reduced from the current nine to three and work part-time.
The Speaker argued that having nine commissioners is a waste of money because not all of them give value and the IEBC secretariat does most of their work. The IEBC has nine commissioners plus the chief executive, who is also the commission Secretary and head of secretariat.
“We do not need more than three. We need to do away with the rest. Commissioners must be seen as policymakers and they cannot hold meetings every day,” the Speaker stated then. The IEBC has nine directorates and 17 departments.
Each directorate is headed by a director, while each department has a manager. The secretariat comprises the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), two Deputy Commission Secretaries (DCSs), nine directors, 17 managers, 17 regional election coordinators and 290 constituency election coordinators.
Muturi’s sentiments come at a time when Cord has been calling for an overhaul of the IEBC, saying they do not have faith in it. The commission has been under pressure to quit to allow a new body to be put in place to conduct elections.
Cord has vowed not to participate in the 2017 elections if the current IEBC commissioners continue holding office. Electoral changes are part of the proposals Cord are seeking to push through their Okoa Kenya referendum.
Last week, IEBC said it had commenced the process of verification of the Okoa Kenya signatures and that the final report will be ready by end of this month.
Although the Constitution does not set specific timelines within which the commission must verify the signatures, IEBC stated that time will start running upon the conclusion of the verification of signatures and presentation of the Bill to the County Assemblies, in accordance with Article 257(5).
The term of the current IEBC ends on November 9, 2017 three months after the next election. Meanwhile, political activists in Narok want Parliament to raise the minimum academic requirement for MCAs to be diploma holders.
Maasai Professionals Association chairman Jackson Saika said the minimum academic qualification has caused panic.
The post Muturi wants IEBC to serve on part-time basis appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.