The four persons nominated to become members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission have a combined net worth of Sh211.5 million.
Juliana Whonge Cherera, Francis Mathenge Wanderi, Irene Cherop Masit, and Justus Abonyo Nyang’aya made the disclosures to the National Assembly's Justice and Legal Affairs Committee during their vetting.
The committee has since approved the nominations of the four, putting them only two steps away from being confirmed to the vacant positions at the IEBC.
MPs have been recalled to among other businesses debate the report of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee chaired by Kangema MP Muturi Kigano on Wednesday.
“The House approves the nomination of the persons for appointment by H.E the president as members of the IEBC,” the report reads.
The President is supposed to gazette the names after approval by Parliament before the nominees are sworn in by the Chief Justice.
Cherera told the committee that she was worth Sh15 million, listing a car worth Sh2.4 million owned by her family, lands of varied sizes in Kwale (11 acres), Mackinnon Market (1 acre), and 1.5 acres in Kilifi.
The nominee further revealed that she owns a two-acre parcel in Meru South, a tea farm worth Sh1.5 million, a family house in Mtwapa under a lease of Sh3 million, 10,000 Safaricom shares and Mwalimu Sacco shares worth Sh328,000.
“The nominee indicated that she has been receiving a monthly gross pay of Sh227,480 from the county government of Mombasa totalling Sh3.3 million,” the JLAC report says.
Wanderi said his estimated net worth was Sh100 million, listing rental income of Sh150,000 per month, board sitting allowance of Sh75,000 per month, dividends of Sh105,000 per year as well as Sh80,000 per year from farming activities.
“On deferred income, the nominee listed rental income of Sh200,000, farming activities of Sh300,000, dividends of Sh100,000, consultancy fees of Sh2 million and other amounts of Sh200,000 as the sources,” MPs said.
Masit, whom the IEBC informed to the committee as having not contested for the past five years, declared that she was worth Sh47 million.
She listed a residential house at Sh20 million, land in Eldoret worth Sh5 million, land in Kajiado at Sh20 million and a vehicle of Sh2 million.
Source of income derived from the National Government CDF Board and National Assembly Select Committee activities totalled to Sh2.8 million in the past two years.
Nyang’aya estimated his net worth to be Sh29.5 million, itemising a quarter of an acre of land in Kajiado county, a Toyota Prado, 25 per cent shares in a residential property, a 3-acre piece of land in Homa Bay, and a rural residence.
He further indicated to have income from consultancy contracts amounting to Sh670,000.
JLAC, in its report, says it did not receive any written statement contesting the suitability of the candidates.
None of them, MPs said, were found to have been adversely associated with practices that depict bias, favouritism or nepotism in the discharge of public duties.
“The selection panel exercised due diligence and contacted vetting bodies for confidential reports on the candidates,” the committee said.
The panel contacted the Kenya Revenue Authority, Higher Education Loans Board, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Directorate of Criminal Investigation and the National Intelligence Service.
Should MPs approve the report, it is expected that the IEBC would not be exposed to a quorum hitch that has hampered its operations since four commissioners exited.
Roselyn Akombe left IEBC in 2017 – days after the general election whereas Margaret Mwachanya, Paul Kurgat, and former vice-chair Consolata Maina resigned in April 2018.
Two weeks ago, the Court of Appeal ruled that the commission is not properly constituted, hence has no capacity to make major decisions as that involving a general election.
JLAC weighed in on the quorum hitch saying there was no legal provision in force setting out the quorum of the commission.
“The committee recommends that Parliament moves urgently and amends the IEBC Act, 2011 to rectify the situation in order to ensure the proper conduct of the business of the commission,” MPs said.
-Edited by SKanyara
