Maraga will undertake the task at the Supreme Court once sworn in at State House Nairobi to take over from Willy Mutunga who opted for an early retirement in June/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, October 19 – The first assignment for the Chief Justice David Maraga will be to swear in the nine members of the panel that will recruit new commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission(IEBC).
Maraga will undertake the task at the Supreme Court once sworn in at State House Nairobi to take over from Willy Mutunga who opted for an early retirement in June.
The IEBC Select Panel is made up of a nine-member committee including five nominees from religious organisations and four from the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC).
The nine-member committee comprises five nominees from religious organisations and four from the Parliamentary Service Commission.
Religious organisations nominated National Council of Churches of Kenya Secretary-General Canon Peter Karanja, Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims chairman Abdulghafur El-Busaidy and Bernadette Musundi to represent the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops.
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.
During its first sitting, the Selection Panel is expected to elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson, after which it will determine its own rules and 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.
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