Karua wants talks on exist of IEBC commissioners hastened

Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua (centre) addresses journalists in Nakuru on September 28, 2016. She demanded speedy negotiations on the exit of the electoral commissioners from office. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By  Eric Matara  &  JULIANA STONNICK

What you need to know:

  • Ms Karua said the electoral commissioners ought to leave office by September 30, 2016.
  • She wants the process of appointing new IEBC commissioners to be hastened and completed by November.
  • This, she says, is in order to conform to the law that requires that new commissioners be appointed eight months before the general elections.
  • Ms Karua has also expressed concern about the deletion of the Election Offences Act, which she said, was a recipe for electoral chaos and indiscipline.

Narc-Kenya party leader Martha Karua has demanded speedy negotiations on the exit of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials from office.

She claims delays in removing the commissioners was a deliberate and calculated scheme.

She spoke in Nakuru on Wednesday morning even as the government’s technical negotiating committee was set to meet with the IEBC commissioners at Harambee House in Nairobi on Thursday afternoon.

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The head of public service has invited the IEBC team, led by chairman Issack Hassan, for the meeting that will take place from 3pm.

Speaking at Emboita Hotel in Nakuru during her party’s county leaders’ meeting, Ms Karua said the electoral commissioners ought to leave office by September 30.

EXIT TERMS NOT CLEAR

She expressed concern that their exit terms are yet to be agreed on.

“Narc Kenya is concerned [about] what appears to be a deliberate and calculated delay in facilitating the exit of the current IEBC commissioners from office as there is no mechanism to guide the exit,” said Ms Karua.

Ms Karua now wants speedy negotiations and the resignation of the current commissioners in order to beat the September 30 deadline.

Ms Karua wants the process of appointing new IEBC commissioners to be hastened and completed by November so as to conform to the law that requires that new commissioners be appointed eight months before the general elections.

According to the IEBC Act, the electoral body should procure the electronic voter system at least eight months before the elections.

It also requires that the IEBC engage a reputable body to audit the voters’ register, at least eight months to the elections.

Ms Karua has also expressed concern about the deletion of Election Offences Act, which she said, was a recipe for electoral chaos and indiscipline.

“Parliament has promised to enact a separate Election Offences Act; failure to have that will throw this country into chaos,” she cautioned.

Ms Karua was accompanied by Narc-Kenya secretary-general Ambrose Nzomo.

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