Kenya: IEBC Nominees Await President Kenyatta’s Nod After Approval By MPs

Duale on his part questioned MPs calling for the removal of Chebukati where they have been for since the last general elections.

“Let us not discuss three against four, let these seven people move as one and give this country free, fair and credible elections,” the Garissa Township MP stated.

Nominated MP Jenipher Shamalla urged the Commission to enhance its voter education programme to ensure registered voters are sensitized and curb cases on the high percentage of spoiled votes.

“Could there be a possibility that it is deliberately done and it could be a way of rigging. I do not have an answer to that but I do hope that in the event that this House approves the nominee commissioners that they will provide the answers before the next general election,” Shamalla said.

Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) Chairman Muturi Kigano urged the new commissioners to take the challenge thrown to them by MPs and ensure that preparations for the polls are back on track.

This comes after the Commission postponed the opening of tenders for the ballot papers, voter register, and result declaration forms.

“There have been efforts to re-organise the office of the IEBC headquarters perhaps to forestall any efforts that maybe made by the new incoming Commissioners, we have taken not of that and we are going to call a very urgent retreat once the Commission is fully constituted, so that they can re-organise with everybody being in the know,” Kigano explained.

A section of MPs led by Mbadi, Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi, Homa Bay Woman Rep Gladys Wanga, and Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo have warned that the commission should not undertake any procurement until it is fully constituted and that the chairperson risks being removed.