A House committee on Thursday meets stakeholders to deliberate on a bill seeking to change composition of a selection panel that oversees filling of IEBC positions.
Monday was the last day for members of the public to submit views on the bill.
If it sails through, the bill will enable the Political Parties Liaison Committee, established under section 38 of the Political Parties Act, No. 11 of 2011 and the Public Service Commission to each nominate one member to the panel.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act of 2011 states that the seven-member selection panel shall consist of two men and two women nominated by the Parliamentary Service Commission chaired by National Assembly Speaker.
According to the Act, IEBC selection panel is also supposed to have one person nominated by the Law Society of Kenya and two people nominated by the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya.
The bill is seeking to reduce the four slots allocated to the Parliamentary Service Commission to two, and have the Public Service Commission and Political Parties Liaison Committee nominate one person each.
The terms of IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati’s and commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye come to an end in January.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 49 of 2022) is sponsored by the leader of majority Kimani Ichung’wa.
The bill was published on November 2 and read a first time in the House on November 17.
It was then committed to Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs for consideration and reporting to the House in line with Standing Order 127.
