The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is seeking to hire 300,000 temporary workers ahead of the August 9, polls.
Speaking at the Anglican Church of Kenya Bishops and Senior Clergy conference, IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati noted that the commission will spend Ksh6 billion to facilitate recruitment and remuneration.
Further, Chebukati noted the IEBC was keen to ensure that the electoral process is free and fair and part of those efforts means having sufficient manpower.
Chebulati was challenged by the Anglican Church of Kenya Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit who noted that the electoral agency needs to prepare well for the August polls.
Sapit also noted that IEBC owes Kenyans a transparent tallying process of the results at all levels. He added that the poll agency is obliged to build public confidence to deliver a credible election.
Archbishop Sapit pointed out that early preparations for the August polls will allow the IEBC to conduct peaceful elections.
Chebukati also addressed the summons they have issued to politicians over reckless talk. He stated that the commission is not powerless despite the High Court ruling that it has no mandate to hear such matters.
High Court judge Anthony Mrima blocked the IEBC from moving to hearing the vote-rigging cases against Murang’a Woman Representative Sabina Chege and Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria.
“We invited some two individuals to appear before us but a high court judgement that came up that struck out the election code of conduct committee. What does that mean? That our teeth have been removed? That we can only drink porridge,” he posed.
“It means that cases that come ups during the campaign, we form an investigation team to investigate and forward the same to the Director of Public Prosecution,” he added.
Notably, IEBC is yet to announce the start of the recruitment process for the 300,000 vacancies it is looking to fill. In March, the electoral agency was forced to speak out after a fake advert asked Kenyans to apply for non-existing jobs with the commission.
The commission cautioned Kenyans via their social media accounts that the notice was fake. The fake notice claimed the IEBC was looking to employ 262,665 polling and counting clerks, ahead of the polls.
"IEBC is seeking to employ 262,665 polling/counting clerks who will work for 9 days on a payment of Ksh 1,000 every day," the false notice read.
