The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) CEO, Ezra Chiloba, who has been facing criticism from the Opposition has been handed a new role at the polls agency ahead of the October Presidential election.
Speaking shortly after a retreat in Naivasha on Monday, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati indicated that the commission had resolved to work together to ensure that there will be a smooth process on October 17th.
Chebukati announced that Chiloba had been tasked with preparing an operational plan highlighting the challenges of the last election and oversee the project team appointed last week for the fresh Presidential election.
“We have agreed to review and streamline the operationalisation of the project team for purposes of efficient and effective delivery of the fresh presidential election.
"The CEO has been tasked to assess the implementation challenges that were experienced during the just concluded General Election and propose a project implementation framework that is aligned with the existing organisational structure," Chebukati stated.
The Chair further noted that Chiloba would work towards ensuring that the new project team worked within the organisational structure.
The decision to have Chiloba oversee the project team comes amid calls by the Opposition for his resignation from the Commission.
On Sunday, Opposition Leader Raila Odinga and his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka threatened to boycott the election if Chiloba and his team are not fired and prosecuted for election malpractices.
"Chiloba team must go home. These were the prime suspects who were involved in the shambolic elections. They should be prosecuted for election offences.
''We are here to thank you for the overwhelming support you gave us during the recent shambolic election that was cancelled by the Supreme Court following major irregularities. However, we still maintain that we are not ready to participate if the people we mentioned are not fired,'' Odinga stated.
