Speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Justine Muturi is calling for the amendment of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Act and related laws to secure a more credible and acceptable electoral management body, ahead of the 2017 general election.
Speaking during a meeting with Church leaders In Nairobi, Speaker Muturi said that such an amendment would also see the number of Commissioners reduced and mandated to work on part time basis as opposed to the current arrangement.
Currently the Issack Hassan led Commission has 9 commissioners who are permanent and pensionable. “Commissions as provided for in the Constitution are meant to be policy bodies. They should meet, make policy and leave the secretariat to implement and engage on the day to day processes in keeping with the principles of good governance. Thus the IEBC Commissioners should not be going to office everyday-This is a historical accident that should be removed through an amendment of IEBC Act,” he observed.
The meeting was convened under the auspices of Ecumenical Civic Education Programme (ECEP), that brings together the Catholic Church and NCCK membership.
At the same time the Speaker called for an all-stakeholder national conversation with a view of addressing the political standoff on the fate of the current IEBC commissioners.
Hon. Muturi however cautioned against disbanding constitutional bodies through unorthodox means saying it would be tantamount to abrogating the very constitution that Kenyans fought for. “We should have a situation where we sit around the table with all the players and see what is workable. We need a national conversation where we soul search ourselves. We fought for many years to bring constitutional reforms in the country; it’s barely five years since its promulgation. If we start disbanding the bodies set up in that constitution, then we will be abrogating the constitution,” said the Speaker during the consultative meeting with the Church.
Muturi added that there was need for an audit on the key role of the electoral body and how it has performed since it came into office, since it would be redemptive for Commissioners to know the perceptions of those who consume their services.
The Speaker commended the church leaders for speaking out on the ongoing controversy over whether the Commission should preside over the 2017 general election as currently constituted.
The meeting brought together Church leaders from the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) membership and the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB). Those present included NCCK General Secretary Reverend Canon Peter Karanja, Archbishop Zacheaus Okoth, Bishop Cornelius Korir, Most Rev. Martin Kivuva and Rt. Rev. Alfred Rotich.
The leaders resolved to upscale their engagement with all stakeholders aimed at addressing emerging electoral issues for accountability and foster peace and reconciliation ahead of the 2017 general election.
