House petitioned to sack electoral commissioners as CORD opts out

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi Thursday notified MPs about a new petition recommending the sacking of electoral commissioners.

The petition cited incompetence and lack of integrity as the grounds for removal. The petition came on a day of political drama as the Opposition pulled all its 11 members from the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, while President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is in Belgium, insisted all talks will be held within the august House.

The withdrawal of CORD MPs complicates matters for parliamentary talks that were meant to resolve the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) impasse.

The petition by political consultant Nyikuri Barasa wants a tribunal formed to investigate the IEBC bosses.

"The petitioner prays that the National Assembly immediately deliberates on this petition as a matter of urgency, interrogates and ascertains the grounds... for removal of the said commissioners," a communication from Mr Muturi read.

Those targeted are Lilian Bokeeye Mahiri–Zaja, Albert Camus Onyango Bwire, Kule Galma Godana, Amb Yusuf Nzibo, Abdullahi Sharawe, Thomas Letangule, Muthoni Wangai and Mohamed Alawi.

The petition will now be considered by the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, which is however embroiled in drama after the Opposition formally wrote to the Speaker removing its members from the key team.

The Speaker and the ruling Jubilee coalition complained that CORD was complicating the talks.

Those removed from the committee are David Ochieng (Ugenya), Agostinho Neto (Ndhiwa) Peter Kaluma (Homa Bay), Fatma Ibrahim (Wajir) and Ben Momanyi (Borabu).

Others are T.J Kajwang (Ruaraka), Bishop Robert Mutemi (Nominated), Olago Aluoch (Kisumu Town West), Christine Ombaka (Kisumu), Benjamin Andati (Khwisero) and William Kamoti (Rabai).

The de-whipping of the members came at a time when the committee, sitting jointly with the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee, is conducting public hearings into two crucial bills regarding electoral reforms.