Interviews for polls team jobs start Monday

Interviews for commissioners of the new electoral team start on Monday following the Thursday deadline for the public to submit views on the 44 shortlisted candidates.

The interviews will be conducted at KICC Shimba Hills Hall and will run up to October 10.

The selection panel, chaired by lawyer Ekuru Aukot, is expected to forward names of 13 successful candidates to President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

The President and the PM will then select eight of them for approval by Parliament to become new members of the Independent Election and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The panel received 427 applications and shortlisted 44 for the eight slots in the IEBC.

However, ever since the list of the shortlisted candidates was published, the panel has had to defend itself from accusations of locking out some qualified candidates.

MPs William Ruto (Eldoret North), Julius Kones (Konoin) and Aden Duale (Dujis) have accused the team of locking out some applicants, in spite of their “sterling performance” at the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC). (READ: Kenya polls team list sparks heated debate)

Only three members of the IIEC made it to the shortlist, with the major casualties being Mr Davis Chirchir and Ms Winnie Guchu.

IEBC chairperson

Dr Aukot has, however, stated that the panel was guided by the provisions of the Constitution.

The panel will also start vetting the candidates for the position of IEBC chairperson after the deadline of submitting applications lapsed on Wednesday last week.

The vacancy was re-advertised after only four applications, including that of IIEC chairman Hassan Isaack and human rights activist Koki Muli were received.