IEBC, registrar to hear political parties nomination lists disputes

IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati (left) & IEBC commissioner Dr. Roselyne Kwamboka (right) (Photo: Courtesy)

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the Registrar of Political Parties began receiving complaints on Friday from disgruntled party members over the gazetted nomination lists.

The complainants have until Sunday (tomorrow) 5pm to lodge their case with the two offices. The week-long event will be done concurrently by the IEBC Dispute Resolution Committee and the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal. Over 1,000 Kenyans are nominated by their political parties for allocation of special seats to the National Assembly, Senate and county assemblies.

“The commission has reviewed all submitted party lists to ensure compliance with the prescribed laws/regulations and all political parties found with non-compliant party lists required to amend the lists accordingly,” said IEBC Communication’s Manager Andrew Limo (inset). Those in dispute of the nominees to be considered for the 12 slots in the National Assembly, 20 in the Senate and over 100 in the county assemblies have an opportunity to challenge their political parties’ choices.

Political parties submitted 122 names for the 20 Senate slots and 108 names for the National Assembly. “This is to further notify the public that the timelines for filing all complaints is on Sunday 5pm. The nomination will be on the basis of proportional representation by use of Party Lists under Articles 97(1)(c), 98 (1)(b), (c) & (d), and 177(1)(b) & (c) of the Constitution” Mr Limo said.

“All complaints will be physically lodged as per applicable procedures/forms. No complaint will be received by e-mail. Those who will file a complaint in the wrong forum shall immediately be referred to the relevant body,” Limo said. Already the commission is yet to receive any official complaint; it will deal with cases relating to statutory qualifications, requirements and non-adherence to the law or guidelines it issued.

The guidelines to political parties by IEBC on preparation and submission of party lists included members of the public, registered voters and institutions/organisations/civil society. “The IEBC Dispute Resolution Committee sitting in Nairobi will hear the cases from Monday,” he said.

Complaints against the respective political party on the conduct of party list nominations or the selection of nominees by party members and party officials will be heard by the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal (PPDT) sitting in Nairobi. “A complaint may be lodged with the tribunal at the PPDT registry at the High Court in Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts),” he said. He added that all duly filled complaint forms downloaded from the IEBC website must be delivered to the Legal Registry on the seventh floor of Anniversary Towers and www.ppdt.judiciary.go.ke.

ODM Secretary General Senator Agnes Zani said the nominations were conducted from the grassroots based on party loyalty and constitutional qualification.