Jubilee tells IEBC talks-team its wishes

Jubilee wants partial replacement of electoral commissioners to ensure institutional memory, competence and expertise.

Also the ruling coalition has recommended to the Parliamentary Select committee on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) that an independent select panel of seven, nominated by Public Service Commission (four) and religious groups (three) should be in place to appoint their replacement.

The party despite differing with CORD and other organisations in support of the commissioners' ouster, on grounds that they have not been found guilty of any offence, is of the view that if they quit voluntarily, including the secretary Ezra Chiloba, they should be paid their full benefits.

United Republican Party Chairman Barre Shil (Fafi MP) and The National Alliance Secretary General Onyango Oloo yesterday urged the committee to ensure its decision does not undermine the Constitution.

Though Jubilee made many recommendations, those that attracted questions from MPs included unclear position on election date, call to have IEBC conduct party primaries on the same day, the commission's handling of election disputes and offences, party list, voter registration and voter register among others.

The two made it very clear that Jubilee does not support calls to reduce the number of IEBC commissioners or hire team on a part time basis.

They made it known to the committee, co-chaired by Senators Kiraitu Murungi (Meru) and James Orengo (Siaya), their opposition to proposals by previous presenters to have IEBC chairman Issack Hassan stripped of the mandate to announce the presidential results.

Shil and Oloo urged the legislators not to back removal from office of the commissioners without an exit strategy. They also said the process should be swift and seamless.

Some committee members including Mutula Kilonzo Jnr (Makueni) took issue with the recommendation to partially recruit commissioners.

"Why should we retain some commissioners for institutional memory? The information is domiciled in the institution and not in the medulla oblongata. This is a digital government," said Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale.