Several government appointees risk losing their jobs after President William Ruto and Azimio party leader Raila Odinga agreed to peace talks.
Among them are the officials appointed to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection panel, tasked with recruiting the body's chairperson and commissioners.
The reconstruction of IEBC was one of the key issues that compelled Raila to organise nationwide demonstrations against the government and is also set to be discussed after the opposition leader and Ruto embraced dialogue.
Azimio previously claimed that the panel represented government interest and that the current administration was already planning for the 2027 General Election rather than addressing crucial issues like lowering the cost of living.
Uncertainty thus hangs on the future of members of the selection panel, Bethuel Sugut, Novince Atieno, Charity Kisotu, Evans Misati, Benson Ngugi, Nelson Makanda and Fatuma Saman.
Ruto gazetted the seven members following the exit of former IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati and former commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu after the end of their six-year term.
Notably, continued meetings of the panel were among the factors that led to the collapse of the first bipartisan talks held by lawmakers appointed by the government and the opposition.
"We cannot have a referee who will be putting on a jersey of a particular team and purport to whistle as an independent person at the field. It is wrong and totally uncalled for in this country. We cannot go into the election unless everyone is given an opportunity to participate,” Stewart Madzayo, Senate minority leader, lamented.
"What we want is a bipartisan effort similar to what we saw in 1997 with the Inter-Party Parliamentary Group (IPPG) so that stakeholders can all be brought to the table to constitute a commission that will have faith in," Edwin Sifuna, Nairobi Senator and Orange Democratic Movement secretary general added in March 2023.
Analyst View
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke on Saturday, August 5, political analyst Mark Bichache expressed that the team could be overhauled should Ruto and Raila reach a compromise over its composition.
He indicated that the tenure of the selection panel appointed on February 27 could be determined in the coming days as the talks between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio take shape.
"There needs to be a comprise between the two people. Either they can increase the selection panel to accommodate more people or do away as a whole," he stated.
However, despite the truce between Ruto and Raila, there are lingering challenges, with both teams doubting each other's commitment.
"Kenya Kwanza feel like they won and do not want to talk to anyone about anything. It feels like the person pressuring them to talk has not given them any option," Bichache added.
Azimio vs Kenya Kwanza
The ruling coalition, Kenya Kwanza and the opposition agreed to discuss the reconstitution of the IEBC, implementation of the 2/3 gender rule and entrenchment of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
National Assembly Majority Leader, Kimani Ichung'wah, who represents the government in the talks, confirmed that the talks will begin in the coming weeks after Azimio proposed Monday, August 7 as the commencement date..
He, however, did not speak on the fate of the future of the IEBC selection panel.
Other Kenya Kwanza representatives include Aaron Cheruiyot, Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Hassan Omar and Bungoma Woman Representative Catherine Wambilianga.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, National Assembly Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi, Democratic Action Party leader Eugene Wamalwa, Nyamira Senator Okong'o Omogeni and Malindi MP Amina Mnyanzi will represent Azimio.
