Bid to raise MCAs’ qualifications
What you need to know:
- There has been concern over the competence of members of county assemblies in fulfilling their legislative and oversight roles.
- Dr Khalwale said the reforms in the Bill resonate with what Cord leaders are advocating in the referendum they are pushing for.
Some senators are pushing for amendments to the electoral laws to ensure the academic qualifications of county assembly members are raised.
The amendments will also set the age limit for MPs and senators as well as elevate the Senate as the upper House.
Senators Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet), Boni Khalwale (Kakamega) and Stephen Sang (Nandi) Tuesday said they had closed ranks to push for electoral reforms as part of lessons from the last General Election.
The legislators said they would also propose an amendment to ensure that elections to pick the president and governors are held on different dates.
PARTY NOMINATIONS
There has been concern over the competence of members of county assemblies in fulfilling their legislative and oversight roles.
Mr Murkomen said the Senate would also set electoral timelines, including when to hand in party nominations to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The Senate will also determine whether county assembly nominations should be done nationally or regionally, he added.
“Such timelines gave us problems in 2013 since deadlines were not clear,” he said.
Dr Khalwale said the reforms in the Bill resonate with what Cord leaders are advocating in the referendum they are pushing for.
“Once we reform IEBC laws, then there will be secondary legislation on the age and academic qualifications of those seeking county assembly member seats,” he said.
Mr Sang, who is well-known for the controversial County Development Bill, said that he would soon present a proposal on the floor of the House seeking to address the issue.
He said election rules were passed barely two months before the 10th Parliament was disbanded and there was not enough time to deliberate on them.
There were also concerns that the legislators kept changing clauses, especially on the qualifications for various political seats, to suit personal interests.
“This time, we will address the issues on time to avoid a last-minute rush,” he said.
LAY PROPER SYSTEM
“I want to make it clear that our changes are not targeting individuals in the electoral agency as others may think but seeks to lay proper systems.”
In a recent interview, Balambala MP Abdikadir Aden said that Jubilee senators would be forced to join the referendum in a bid to have the changes made in the Constitution.
“We all support the need for electoral reforms and we urge Jubilee leaders to support the agenda in the referendum,” he said.
