Former military man to head new polls agency
Ahmed Issack Hassan, Interim Independent Electrol Commission Chairman, (left) addresses journalists during a press conference in his office on Tuesday, shortly before he announced the new secretariat. He is with M/s Winnie Guchu a member of the commission. PHOTO/PETERSON GITHAIGA
A retired military lawyer will head the country’s new secretariat to manage the country’s elections.
Retired Major James Oswago was introduced as the country’s new chief electoral officer by the chairman of the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC), Mr Issack Hassan.
His deputy will be Ms Gladys Boss Shollei, currently the CEO of the National Council for Law Reporting.
The secretariat, which includes nine directors, 17 regional electoral coordinators and 210 constituency electoral coordinators, has been employed on a permanent basis.
They will serve in the country’s electoral system after the term of the IIEC ends either in December 2010 or three months after the enactment of a new constitution.
“Other than the deputy constituency electoral coordinators and the voter registration clerks who will be employed on five month contracts, the rest do not have their terms tied to the expiry of our (commissioners) term,” Mr Hassan said.
Those recruited are expected to resign from their current jobs.
The other members of the secretariat include Ms Immaculate Njenge-Kassait (voter registration and electoral operations); Ms Sellestine Kiuluku (human resource and administration director); Mr Dismas Ong’ondi (information & communication technology); Mr Gideon Ochanda (voter education and partnerships), former Magistrate Praxedes Tororey (legal and public affairs coordinator). Mrs Lucy Ndungu (registrar of political parties), Mr Edwin Kenga Karisa (finance and procurement), Mr Abdirahman Bilacha Issak (risk and compliance) and Ms Decimah Isalano M’Mayi (research and development).
Mr Hassan said the team would lead the voter registration starting in February.
