No IEBC reform outside Parliament, Jubilee leaders insist

Justice and Legal Affairs Committee chairman Samuel Chepkong’a. PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Majority Leader Aden Duale, Speaker Justin Muturi and Justice and Legal Affairs Committee chairman Samuel Chepkonga welcomed any moves to remove the embattled commissioners.
  • "If there is a political problem, political problems will not be solved through street protests," says Mr Duale.
  • Mr Muturi said political players and civil society still have time to resolve the issues of the IEBC.

Jubilee leaders in the National Assembly insisted on Tuesday morning that any changes at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) would have to be made through Parliament.

Speaking at a meeting with editors Tuesday morning, Majority Leader Aden Duale, Speaker Justin Muturi and Justice and Legal Affairs Committee chairman Samuel Chepkong'a welcomed any moves to remove the embattled commissioners.

Mr Duale, however, said he would oppose the Bill set to be tabled on Wednesday giving political parties a hand in the selection of IEBC members.
"The best place to deal with the IEBC, or any other issue, is through Parliament," said Mr Duale.

"If there is a political problem, political problems will not be solved through street protests," he said.

Mr Duale said he would oppose any agreement struck between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Cord leader Raila Odinga on the IEBC if that agreement is outside the confines of the Constitution regarding independent commissions.

DIRECT STATEMENTS

Mr Muturi steered clear of any direct statements on the IEBC but said past agreements struck outside Parliament were made because the old Constitution did not provide for it, unlike the current one.

He said the Inter-Parties Parliamentary Group (IPPG) agreements of 1997 and National Accord discussions in 2008 were carried out outside Parliament because the old Constitution did not have provisions on dealing with the issues.

The IPPG came about to allow the then Opposition to select some members of the electoral commission.

Mr Muturi said political players and civil society still have time to resolve the issues related to the IEBC.

"As a House, we are open," Mr Muturi has said.

"It is not too late for political players, sitting with civil society, to begin talking about the electoral management system we want," he added.

"The House is not going to stand in the way of Kenyans to change whatever law or structures they want. Of course, we'll stand with the Constitution, the supreme law of the land."

Mr Chepkong'a said the committee is ready to receive proposals on how to reform the IEBC, including petitions on removing the commissioners.