Members of the National Assembly are pursuing a major overhaul of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) management and its working schedule.
The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, chaired by Hon. William Cheptumo, transferred the mandate of IEBC commissioners over to MPs stating that it will have the final say.
In a reorganisation move, the August House is planning to have the number of commissioners at the embattled house reduced to five and their services carried out on part time basis.
Parliament is also mulling over developing a permanent Government Selection Panel to recruit commissioners after the previous one was disbanded immediately after the selection.
The purpose of the selection panel would be to advertise and then shortlist candidates suitable for the various commission jobs. The team will also conduct interviews and finally recommend successful applicants to the National Assembly.
Mr Cheptumo explained the necessity of the panel to be permanent in an effort to end the numerous resignation of commissioners as it is in the commission today.
This proposal came shortly after another MP, Peter Kaluma from Homa Bay Town, suggested that the commissioners of the electoral body be reduced to five.
Kaluma further elaborated that two of the members to represent the majority parties, two others from the minority parties while the fifth one be a member of the Law Society of Kenya and chosen by IEBC.
Following the 2017 elections, IEBC had seven commissioners whereas the law requires a membership of between three and nine. Four of the members have since resigned among them Roselyn Akombe.
Separately, two other MPs, Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja) and William Cheptumo (Baringo North), want all IEBC officials including Chebukati investigated accusing them of shouldering the graft blame to the newly sacked CEO Ezra Chiloba.
The commission is facing corruption claims leading to the loss of over Ksh9 billion unaccounted taxpayers money.
