IEBC revises timelines as reality of new poll laws dawns

The electoral agency has revised its timelines in efforts to meet some of the strict deadlines set by the recently-enacted poll laws.

The new changes come as it emerged that some of the timelines set by the joint select committee on electoral reforms were arrived at without considering whether they can be achieved.

In a document exclusively obtained by The Standard, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has shelved its plans to have mass voter registration in December, and instead pushed it to its initial February date.

The commission had been requested to have the second mass listing in December to tap eligible schoolgoing youths.

The exercise will now run from February 7, 2017 to March 9.

PARTY PRIMARIES

According to the new schedule, political parties will now hold their primaries on April 20, 2017 ahead of delivery of nomination papers to IEBC by political party and independent candidates between May 8, 2017 and May 20.

Initially, the exercise was to be conducted 14 days before June 9, 2017.

"The request by stakeholders to have the second phase of mass voter registration during December holidays is now not possible and the exercise will run in February-March as earlier planned," said the commission in the document.

The commission has also pushed forward inspection of the register of voters to give room for the auditing of the voter register.

The crucial exercise will now run from April 21 to May 21 for a period of 30 days.

At the same time, IEBC will this week meet leaders from various political parties as it pushes for the changes as well as put in more efforts in its engagement with electoral players ahead of the August 8, 2017 polls.

MET COMMITTEE

Yesterday, IEBC officials met with the Parliamentary Justice and Legal Committee (JLAC) to discuss some of the challenges occasioned by the new law.

There is already a storm over the auditing of the register, with CORD demanding the exercise be put to a hold until new commissioners take charge.

But most pressing is the strict deadline set by the James Orengo and Kiraitu Murungi-led team, which requires the commission to identify a reputable audit firm 30 days after the commencement of the new law, putting November 3 as the deadline.

The commission yesterday said it would continue engaging all players in the process to explain the dilemma it is already in as it pulls all the stops to hold free, fair and credible elections.