IEBC PARLIAMENTARY VETTING: PARLIAMENT TO VET NOMINATED IEBC COMMISSIONERS ONCE IT RESUMES

KENYANS GIVEN UNTIL MAY 21 TO SUBMIT COMPLAINTS TO JLAC

The national assembly’s justice and legal affairs committee (jlac) has given Kenyans until the 21st may to submit views and complaints regarding the newly appointed commissioners of the independent electoral and boundaries commission (iebc), who were nominated by president ruto. The committee is expected to vet the chairperson nominee of the iebc, erastus ethekon, along with the other commissioners once parliament resumes.

Political temperature continues to rise over the vetting process of the new iebc commissioners, who were appointed by President William Ruto on 8th may. The commissioners are expected to be vetted by the national assembly’s justice and legal affairs committee once parliament resumes.

The Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, provides that “an appointment under the Constitution or any other law for which the approval of Parliament is required shall not be made unless the appointment is approved or deemed to have been approved by Parliament.”

The speaker of the national assembly has tasked the committee with vetting erastus ethekon edung, who has been proposed as the chairperson of the independent electoral and boundaries commission (iebc), along with six other commissioners: ann njeri nderitu, moses alutalala mukhwana, mary karen sorobit, hassan noor hassan, francis odhiambo aduol, and fahima arafhat abdalla.

“The urgency to reconstitute the IEBC cannot be overstated,” Wetang’ula said in his notification, directing Jlac to immediately commence approval hearings.

National assembly speaker wetang’ula has also urged all individuals with concerns about the appointment of these commissioners to submit their complaints to the justice and legal affairs committee. The committee has given complainants until the 21st of this month to present their views and grievances.

“The clerk is hereby required to submit this notification to all members of the National Assembly and facilitate the committee to undertake the necessary approval hearings on the nominees referred to them for consideration,” the memo reads.

This process has sparked mixed reactions, particularly from the opposition. Opposition leaders are divided on the matter, with kalonzo’s faction rejecting the nominations, while gachagua maintains a more moderate stance on the appointments.

Citing the national dialogue committee (nadco) report, musyoka stressed the need for coalition consensus to legitimize the commission. “The recommendations in paragraph 861 of the report highlight the importance of consultations before the president appoints the chairperson and members of the iebc,” said the former vice president.

President ruto’s allies, however, have criticized kalonzo and others opposing the iebc appointments, accusing them of opposing everything without just cause.