Groups want IEBC officials out by next month

IEBC chairperson Issack Hassan (right)

Several groups have pushed for Parliament to approve recommendations by stakeholders that could result in the exit of electoral commissioners by next month.

The Commission on Administrative Justice, Council of Governors and Centre for Multiparty Democracy-Kenya yesterday tendered their submissions before the select committee, where they also reiterated calls for speedy resolution to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) deadlock.

The proposals recommend that four of the nine commissioners be expatriated to restore public confidence in the electoral process.

The stakeholders want the commissioners to only handle one General Election as opposed to the current situation where they serve for a fixed six-year term.

They argued that if need be, depending on the prevailing circumstances and it becomes impossible to hold the next poll on August 8, 2017, the date can be adjusted either through court or Parliament to March 3, 2018 and not beyond.

But CAJ has vehemently opposed the changing of election date, emphasising that Article 101 and 136 of the Constitution are clear on the matter.

Others issues canvassed included devolution of registration of persons, declaration of presidential results at the constituency or county level, party nominations, staggering of elections, gender parity, election disputes and electronic voting.

They unanimously agreed that going by the concerns raised by various institutions over lack of confidence in the commission, there could be unrest if the IEBC was allowed to handle the next polls.