NAIROBI, KENYA: United States of America and United Kingdom on Thursday welcomed an agreement by Jubilee and Cord coalitions on positive steps towards resolving the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) impasse.
On Wednesday the two coalitions agreed on the motion to establish a Parliamentary Joint Select Committee on matters relating to the electoral body.
“We welcome Wednesday’s agreement between Jubilee and the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy on the motion to establish a Parliamentary Joint Select Committee on matters relating to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC),” reads a joint statement signed by the two Envoy.
“We encourage the parties to continue their good faith negotiations. Kenyan public confidence in the electoral institutions and process is essential for free, fair, peaceful, and credible elections in August 2017.”
CORD has already named the seven-man team that will dialogue with Jubilee on electoral reforms.
The seven will represent the Opposition in a 14-member special parliamentary committee that will investigate claims of misconduct against electoral commissioners.
Those named were MPs Hellen Sambili (Mogotio), Eseli Simiyu (Tongaren), Junet Mohamed (Suna East) and Mishi Mboko (Mombasa Woman Representative). Others are Senators Mutula Kilonzo Jnr (Makueni), James Orengo (Siaya) and Johnstone Muthama (Machakos).
Ms Sambili, a Kanu MP, was included following calls by the party to disband the electoral agency. Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat had even joined CORD leaders in the anti-Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission rallies.
The Jubilee side is understood to have dropped four of the initial 11 MPs named to the negotiating team.
A source said MPs Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Cecily Mbarire (Runyenjes), Soipan Tuya (Narok Woman Represenative) and Fatuma Dullo (Nominated Senator) will leave the team. However, the final list will be confirmed today after a meeting of senior Jubilee leaders. It is understood some leaders still want Mr Kuria in the team.
While Kuria is said to have been eliminated due to concerns over his recent hate speech case, Ms Mbarire was removed on grounds that she comes from the same region as Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi, who is leading the talks on the Jubilee side.
"Other than Nairobi, all other regions in the former provinces are represented in the list. We need to take care of regional and gender balance. The list is a fair representation of who is going to represent the Jubilee side," said a well-placed source familiar with the ongoing haggling.
With the dropping of the four names, those who will represent Jubilee are Kiraitu, Senators Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet) and Beatrice Elachi (Nominated). Others are MPs Jimmy Angwenyi (Kitutu Chache North), Benjamin Washiali (Mumias East), Naomi Shaban (Taveta) and Mohammud Mohammed (Mandera West).
Yesterday, CORD announced its team at a press conference in Nairobi at which it also gave details of the terms of reference for the committee and the expected outcomes.
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A motion for the formation of the joint committee is expected in the House today. Once established, the committee will receive views from the public, experts, religious groups and county governments, among other interested groups, and is expected to conclude its work within 30 days.
Based on the findings, the committee will prepare a report and a draft bill(s) to be tabled in Parliament.
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