Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati on November 27, downplayed any fear of losing his job once the BBI recommendations are passed into law.
According to an article by Capital News, Chebukati claimed that no law has so far threatened his work and therefore the committee will continue undertaking its mandate as stipulated in the constitution.
During the 6th Annual Continental Forum of Election Management Bodies, the chairman further insisted that the IEBC stands as strong any other constitutional body, stating that the committee continues to prepare for future electoral activities unless otherwise advised by the law.
“We came in office in 2017 January, our term of office ends in January 2023, so as far as I am concerned our contract is still on. I am not worried about it,” added Chebukati.
The BBI report released on November 27 calls for the overhaul of the commission, citing low confidence from the public on the way it has conducted general elections.
“Reform present electoral system to ensure it is simple, accurate, verifiable, secure, accountable and transparent as mandated by Article 86 of the Constitution,” states the BBI report.
The document further proposed that political parties be given the opportunity to nominate members who will serve in the commission.
“In nominating candidates to be commissioners, the political party leaders should nominate individuals who are non-partisan, with a record of accomplishment and integrity, and who are not known political supporters or activists of the party,” reads the report.
“From the views received from Kenyans by the task force, faith in the IEBC remains low. The task force, therefore, recommends that we go to the next election with a clean slate to strengthen faith in the institution,” adds the report.
The recommendations also state that the current IEBC commissioners ought to be vetted again, where any commissioner will only be entitled to serve in the commission for a period of three years, renewable once.
“This will prevent the continuation of errors by enabling each commission at one time in its term to make appointments,” reads the report.
The current commissioners have been in office for three of their six-year term.
According to Daily Nation, removing them now would mean that the taxpayer would have to pay them for the three years of their incomplete term, as well as 31 per cent of their gratuity as provided for by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
The commission has had long-running wrangles, culminating in the sacking of the Chief Executive Officer Ezra Chiloba.
