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IEBC chiefs to know exit package Monday as talks end

The commissioners will however have to wait until Monday to know their individual exit package which will be calculated over the weekend/FILE

The commissioners will however have to wait until Monday to know their individual exit package which will be calculated over the weekend/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 30 – The government has struck a deal with IEBC commissioners on their exit to pave way for a new team that will conduct next year’s General Election.

The commissioners will however have to wait until Monday to know their individual exit package, which will be calculated over the weekend.

Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua says the talks were held strictly under the law and parliamentary recommendations.

“The negotiations have been guided by the need to strike a balance between public interest, legal and constitutional demands, the contract of appointment to office of each commissioner and the guideline of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission,” Kinyua stated.

“The process was not geared towards any party emerging as the winner but rather as an objective endeavor towards securing a dignified vacation from office in line with the unanimous resolution of Parliament.”

To avoid a power vacuum in the office of IEBC that can result to a constitutional crisis, Kinyua stated that commissioners will resign from office once a new team is fully constituted.

“The process was not geared towards any party emerging as “the winner”, but rather as an objective endeavor towards securing a dignified vacation from office in line with the unanimous resolution of Parliament. Guided by the Joint Parliament Select Committee Report, the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2016 and other relevant laws, as well as precedent judgment on what is a legally constituted constitutional commission, IEBC commissioners will vacate office upon the swearing in of new commissioners, in order to avoid a vacuum in the Commission and a consequent constitutional crisis,” he asserted.

“I thank the Chairperson of the IEBC, Ahmed Issack Hassan and his entire team for conducting the negotiations in good faith, the cordial engagement, and more importantly, for their significant contribution in helping the Country navigate through this weighty issue, guided by a great sense of civic duty.”

Hassan on his part said the commissioners were ready to vacate office in order for the new team to start preparing for the next year’s General Election.

“We reiterate our position that the current commissioners are not a stumbling block in the preparation of the next General Election,” he stated.

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The speedy outcome of the negotiations, he said it was proof, “to this commitment.”

He said their move was compelled by the need to ensure the country’s socio-political and economic stability was maintained.

He has urged Parliament to expeditiously recruit a new team to pave way for their exit from office and to “further ensure that the public expectation and parliamentary intent is fulfilled without undue delay.”

CORD leader Raila Odinga had over the weekend insisted that the Hassan and his team should vacate office by Saturday.

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