- The bipartisan committee recommended that the two sides unveil a techincal committee within three weeks.
- The committee will the appoint a reputable firm to audit the 2022 presidential elections.
Image: PCU
President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza camp has until close of business on Wednesday to unveil its three people to sit in the 2022 polls audit panel.
Tomorrow marks the end of the 21 days given by the National Dialogue Committee for the Majority and the Minority sides to name their teams following the adoption of its report by Parliament.
On Monday, opposition leader Raila Odinga's Azimio camp unveiled its representatives to the crucial panel that will review the conduct of the last presidential elections.
Azimio named former Attorney General and ex-Busia governor Amos Wako as its team leader to the panel.
Other names include former nominated Senator Judy Pareno and forensic investigator Julius Njiraini.
National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi wrote to National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula informing him of the appointments.
"Kindly facilitate the inauguration of the full Panel for a speedy execution of its mandate,'' Wandayi told Wetang'ula in his letter.
The audit of the 2022 presidential elections is one of the recommendations of the Nadco committee which midwived a bipartisan agreement between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio.
The Nadco report was adopted by the Senate on February 21, 2024, and the National Assembly on February 22, 2024.
The unanimous approval of the report by the bicameral house set the stage for the commencement of the 2022 polls audit exercise.
The NADCO report recommended the appointment of the panel of experts which should be in place 21 days after its adoption.
"The panel shall consist of six experts. The majority and the minority parties or coalition of parties will each nominate three experts and the panel shall jointly appoint a reputable firm or a consortium of firms to undertake the evaluation,'' states the Nadco report.
"If there is no agreement on the joint appointment of a firm, each side of the panel shall appoint a reputable firm to undertake the evaluation. The two firms shall coordinate the evaluation process."
The panel should among other things appoint a reputable firm or a consortium of firms to undertake the evaluation exercise.
The report states that the evaluation of elections is important in ensuring that voting systems operate accurately, that election officials comply with laws, regulations and internal policies, identify weaknesses and set benchmarks for future performance.
In addition, it states that the audit will help build confidence in the election administration process and the credibility of the results and the electoral management body.
The move by the opposition comes at a time when Parliament has started considering amendments to the IEBC Act 2024 that proposes an audit of elections after every general election.