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Duale rejects backroom deals to resolve IEBC stalemate

Duale said he was against the provision because it would allow political parties to interfere with the appointment of the commissioners/KEVIN GITAU

Duale said he was against the provision because it would allow political parties to interfere with the appointment of the commissioners/KEVIN GITAU

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 7 – National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale says he will oppose any proposals that come from negotiations between President Uhuru Kenyatta and CORD leader Raila Odinga to end the standoff over IEBC Commissioners.

Speaking during a round-table meeting between the Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi and the Editors Guild, Duale said he is against any move that will undermine provisions of the Constitution which govern the existence of the commissioners in office.

“As Leader of Majority, even if the President and former Prime Minister agree, ultimately whatever they will agree on, they will bring to Parliament and I will oppose it. I will only agree if Article 251 is followed to the letter and the spirit where anybody brings a petition on the removal of any commission because sometimes you have to stand for the Constitution regardless of your standing in society,” he stated.

He said the Constitution is clear on procedures to be followed to disband the IEBC.

Duale said he would oppose the Bill set to be tabled on Wednesday giving political parties a hand in the selection of IEBC members.

The Majority Leader said he was against a provision in the IEBC Amendment Bill which seeks to allow CORD and Jubilee coalitions nominate four people to the vetting panel to select future Commissioners to the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission.

Duale said he was against the provision because it would allow political parties to interfere with the appointment of the commissioners.

The Bill sponsored by Justice and Legal Affairs Committee Chairman Samuel Chepkonga was published on Friday.

READ: MPs agree on IEBC hiring panel, will visit counties to get views

It will then be committed to the House team for 90 days to facilitate for the collection of public views.

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The Bill further proposes to have the Public Service Commission to select three independent nominees to form a seven-man IEBC selection panel that will hire the electoral agency commissioners.

House Speaker Justin Muturi urged political players and civil society to continue with their efforts to resolve the issues related to the IEBC through dialogue.

“It is not too late for political players, sitting with civil society, to begin talking about the electoral management system we want. The House is not going to stand in the way of Kenyans to change whatever law or structures they want. Of course, we’ll stand with the Constitution, the supreme law of the land,” he added.

Editor Guild Chairman Linus Kaikai called on the Speaker of the National Assembly to spearhead the process of finding a solution to impasse that has so far left three people dead and several others injured during anti-IEBC weekly protests called by the Opposition.

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