Senators mull locking out IEBC vice chair from running poll body

Senate Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee chairperson Senator Hillary Sigei during a previous session. [File, Standard]

The vice chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission(IEBC) will not automatically become the Commission chairperson whenever a vacancy occurs if a proposal by senators on the IEBC Act is adopted.

The IEBC Act section 7A states that whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of the chairperson, the vice-chairperson shall act as the chairperson and exercise the powers and responsibilities of the chairperson until such a time the chairperson is appointed.