Kenya polls team list sparks heated debate
A group of lawmakers has demanded that candidates for the commission that will run next year’s election be shortlisted afresh.
Eldoret North MP William Ruto and five other politicians on Sunday said the manner in which the candidates were picked did not illustrate the autonomy of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Selection Panel.
“There are issues with the people the panel has selected. We do not understand why some with qualified people have been left out,” said Mr Ruto.
But speaking separately, Gichugu MP Martha Karua warned that the MPs could be jumping the gun and interfering with the working of the selection panel.
She added that the disgruntled groups are represented in the panel given that four of the members were nominated by President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
“If we have an issue with the criteria used by the panel, then we can wait and deal with it when names of the nominees come to Parliament,” said Ms Karua.
The IEBC Selection Panel last week released a list of shortlisted candidates for the post of commissioners on the yet-to-be formed IEBC. But the list has met a harsh reaction from a section of MPs. (READ: Panel invites more applicants for IEBC post)
Last week, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta led MPs from PNU and the ‘rebel’ side of ODM to criticise the selection panel, chaired by Dr Ekuru Aukot.
They criticised the panel for excluding five commissioners who had been serving in the Interim Independent Electoral Commission. The five had applied to join the new electoral team.
Only three commissioners from the IIEC; Dr Yusuf Nzibo, Mr Abiud Simiyu and Mr Ken Nyaundi, were shortlisted.
Those who did not make it are Mr Douglas Mwashigadi, Ms Winfred Guchu, Mr Davis Chirchir and Mr Tiyah Galgalo.
The Nation reported a section of MPs from PNU and rebel ODM feared that the Panel could be crafting a pro-Odinga electoral team.
However, Dr Aukot insists that the selection panel is only following the law.
“This is not about me or you. This is about the Constitution which the panel is following to ensure we get the right people,” he said last week.
Applicants must be cleared by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, Criminal Investigation Department, Kenya Revenue Authority, Director of Public Prosecutions, Higher Education Loans Board and professional bodies such as the Law Society of Kenya.
