Governors have expressed concern over the impasse on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). The county chiefs lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta’s decision to propose formation of a Joint Select Committee of Parliament, but pointed out that the hard line positions and the rising tension were not good for the country.
Council of Governors (CoG) Chairman Peter Munya (Meru) said: “IEBC was a subject of a consultative meeting convened by the Council on June 7, 2016. This is a good window of opportunity and a first step in the right direction.”
He said the deliberations by the committee will create a framework for other steps towards a free and fair election. Munya noted that there are other fundamental issues that also need urgent and immediate dialogue to unlock the current stalemate.
“We also note that the Supreme Court crisis requires urgent resolution to enable it take its rightful place as a dispute resolution mechanism in the electoral process. Also, two-third constitutional principle must be operationalised to avert a constitutional crisis at the heart of preparing for the 2017 elections,” he said.
Munya said the weekly street protests were not good for the economy.
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Elsewhere, a section of governors have backed the opposition’s push for the exit of IEBC commissioners.
Governors Isaac Ruto (Bomet), Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), Jack Ranguma (Kisumu) and Sospeter Ojaamong (Busia) said IEBC commissioners must quit before the next polls. Governor Ruto affirmed that IEBC has integrity issues claiming the commission engages in electoral malpractices.
“In the recent by-election in Kericho I observed a lot of electoral malpractices which we cannot afford to have them repeated in the next polls. There was massive irregularities and the elections did not reflect the will of the people,” said Ruto.
Speaking during the groundbreaking of Kakamega County Teaching and Referral Hospital, Ruto said he support full reforms on the electoral system to ensure free, fair and credible elections.
