IEBC yet to gazette Parliament nominees

Failure by the electoral commission to gazette names of MPs nominated by political parties is likely to delay the first sitting of the new Parliament and swearing in of the elected lawmakers.

The continued delay in swearing-in MPs is becoming an inconvenience for the newly elected leaders because they cannot access parliamentary privileges, they cannot open accounts with the parliamentary Sacco, or eat at the parliamentary cafeteria. They have to wait until they are sworn in.

Those elected for the first time are finding it hard accessing parliamentary facilities, and will not even get their salaries until after they take the oath of office. Former MPs, including those who have been re-elected, however, have access.

On Monday, the Nation learnt that the Office of the President and Parliament had agreed on next Thursday, March 28 as the date when both Houses convene to swear in MPs and elect their respective Speakers.

Indications are that Parliament would not swear in the elected MPs without their nominated counterparts.

The Constitution requires that the first sitting of Parliament be held within 30 days of the election, this means that the deadline is April 4.

The IEBC published names of those elected to the Senate, National Assembly, Governorship and county assemblies but did not gazette those nominated by political parties to Parliament.

The Clerk of the Senate, Mr Jeremiah Nyegenye, told the Nation in an interview in his office that he was sure the IEBC would act accordingly.

“I am sure that the IEBC is conscious that without the nominated members, the Senate has 47 out of 67 senators, it is short by about one third. I am sure they will gazette,” said Mr Nyegenye at his KICC office.

The thinking behind Parliament’s position is that nominated MPs should be in the House during the election of their Speakers.

Parties handed in their nomination lists before/on January 18, and it was not clear why the IEBC had delayed.