The nine-member committee comprises five nominees from religious organisations and four from the Parliamentary Service Commission/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 11 – President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday set in motion the process of recruiting new Commissioners of the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission after he appointed nine nominees to the IEBC Selection Panel.
In a statement dispatched to newsrooms, the Head of State urged those qualified to apply for the positions.
“His Excellency the President encourages all qualified Kenyans to respond to the sterling call to serve our Nation by applying for the position of Chairperson of the IEBC, as well as the positions of Commissioner – IEBC.”
He also encouraged public participation in the selection process.
“The Head of State urges the public to participate in the pivotal exercise of selecting new Commissioners by voicing their views on the candidates who will be shortlisted by the IEBC Selection Panel,” read the statement.
The nine-member committee comprises five nominees from religious organisations and four from the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC).
Religious organisations nominated National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) Secretary-General Canon Peter Karanja, Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) chairman Abdulghafur El-Busaidy and Bernadette Musundi to represent the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB).
Others are Bishop David Oginde representing the Evangelical Churches of Kenya (EAK) and Rajesh Rawal for the Hindu Council of Kenya (HCK).
The Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) forwarded the names of Evans Monari and Mary Kigen to represent the ruling Jubilee Coalition and while the CORD will be represented by Justice (Rtd) Tom Mbaluto and Ogla Chepkemoi Karani.
The Selection Panel shall, at its first sitting, elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson from amongst its number after which it will determine its own procedures.
The Parliamentary Service Commission will provide secretariat services and facilities required by the Selection Panel in the performance of its functions.
The chairperson and members of the Selection Panel shall, before assuming office, take and subscribe the oath or affirmation of office prescribed in the Third Schedule under Election Laws (Amendment) 2016; which can be administered by Commissioner for Oaths or Magistrate.
The Selection Panel shall, within seven days of its appointment, invite applications from qualified persons and publish the names of all applicants and their qualifications in the Gazette, two newspapers of national circulation and on the website of the Parliamentary Service Commission.
The Selection Panel shall consider the applications, shortlist and interview the applicants.
The interviews shall be conducted in public.
After conducting interviews, the Selection Panel shall select two persons qualified to be appointed as chairperson and nine persons qualified to be appointed as members of the Commission and shall forward the names to the President for nomination of one person for appointment as the chairperson and six persons for appointment as members.
The President shall, within seven days of receipt of the names forward the list of nominees to the National Assembly for approval in accordance with the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act.
The President shall, within seven days of receipt of the names approved by the National Assembly, by notice in the Gazette, appoint the Chairperson and the members of the Commission.
The Election Laws (Amendment) Act 2016, is instructive that in short listing, nominating or appointing persons as chairperson and members of the Commission, the Selection Panel, the National Assembly and the President shall ensure that not more than two-thirds of the members are of the same gender and shall ensure regional balance.
The Selection Panel shall stand dissolved upon the requisite appointments being made.
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