By Hillary Mageka and Mercy Mwai
MPs have opposed the inclusion of religious organisations in the new Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection panel that will recruit five commissioners to fill the vacant five IEBC commissioners’ slots.
The lawmakers accused the previous IEBC selection panel chaired by Bernadette Musundi and deputised by Abdulghafur El-Busaidy of bias during interviews to replace the Isaack Hassan-led team.
The lawmakers claimed that the interviewing and final shortlisting of 11 names from which the President picked the chairman and his six commissioners was a charade.
Led by Minority Whip Junet Mohammed (Suna East) and his deputy Chris Wamalwa (Kiminini), the lawmakers instead want political parties to be given a prominent role in a team that will come up with the next set of IEBC commissioners.
IEBC amendment bill
The MPs were speaking while sharing their views on the proposed IEBC amendment bill that seeks to establish a permanent selection panel to oversee the filling of vacant positions in the office of the chairperson and members of the Commission.
The duo said in the previous provisions the church was given a lead role because Kenyans had absolute trust and faith in them.
“These religious people are the ones who gave us the commissioners we have now. What new thing do you think they will bring which they did not bring last time when they were the ones chairing that body that was nominating people?” Mr Mohammed asked.
He added: “We cannot repeat one mistake after the other and expect different results. My view is that the major stakeholders in an electoral process are political parties.
“Those are the people on whose behalf an electoral body should conduct an election. Elections are not for religious organisations or the EACC. They are going to do elections for politicians who are contesting for offices.”
‘Election stakeholders’
Under the proposed bill by the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee that is chaired by Baringo North MP William Cheptumo, four persons will be nominated by the Parliamentary Service Commission and seven others by the Public Service Commission and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
Others are the Law Society of Kenya, National Gender and Equality Commission, the Attorney-General, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), and Inter-religious Council of Kenya.
The amendment seeks to increase members of the IEBC selection panel from nine to 11.
1997 model
Similarly, Wamalwa observed that IEBC appointments should be based on the Inter-Parties Parliamentary Group (IPPG) model that was adopted in 1997 General Election.
“IEBC should go the IPPG way as it was initially. When it comes to the general election, the big players are the political parties,” said Wamalwa, who is also the Ford Kenya party official.
He went on: “It is important for the political parties to be given a position when it comes to nominating these commissioners.”
Second chance
However, Wamalwa pleaded for a second chance for churches.
“Most of the time, whatever they put across, they have a consensus. The issue of bias when you have religious institutions is minimal,” he said.
On her part, Nominated MP Jennifer Shamalla opposed the presence of church leaders in the polls selection team.
“Religious organisations and their leaders are not aware of the electoral process and are not affected directly by the end result of the electoral process. They should not be included,” Ms Shamalla said.
In her view, the electoral process can only be satisfactory if those will be seeking elective posts are fully involved.
Involve CoG and MCAs
She proposed the Council of Governors and the caucus of MCAs nominate a representative and in addition to the bicameral parliament, which has four slots.
“If we have a credible selection panel in place that all Kenyans trust, especially from the political class who will be affected directly that will fine. If the political class is satisfied, I can assure you that they will also be contented with the outcome. Kenya will be peaceful before and after elections,” she cautioned.
On his part, Sirisia MP John Waluke held that the church individuals being nominated to the IEBC team should be people the country has confidence in.
While moving the amendment to the IEBC Act in July 31, Cheptumo rallied members to back his proposal, saying the 11-member selection panel is representation of the cross-section of Kenyan society.
“There is a complete departure now arising from the amendment. We have given two slots to the religious organizations as opposed to the current situation where all the members of the selection panel are from the religious organizations,” the Baringo North legislator noted.
Nevertheless, Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba separately supported the amendments saying the only reason religious groups had been members on the defunct IEBC panel was that we make laws during times of crisis.
“Therefore, I fully support the reduction of the number of religious leaders nominated to the panel, though two is quite a few,” Mr Milemba held.
