Treasury Allocates SH. 84.5 Million To Finance The Recruitment of New IEBC Commissioners

The Treasury on Monday granted the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission Sh.84.5 million for the selection of new commissioners. . These new Commissioners will go through a public interview and fill in the vacant positions. The mini budget has already been allocated by the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC).
“Additional funding amounting to Sh. 84.5 million has been factored to cater for the selection Panel for Commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission,” the Treasury said.
President Uhuru Kenyatta initiated the recruitment last October by appointing nine nominees to the IEBC selection following IEBC Act of 2016. The 9 committee members consist of five nominees from religious organizations and four from the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) which will also provide secretarial services.
The panel will be set up following the passage of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission bill 2019. The resignation of Vice-Chairperson Cornie Nkatha Maina and Commissioners Paul Kurgat and Margaret Mwachanya in 2018 has left 4 vacant positions. Chairman Wafula Chebukati and Commissioners Abdi Guluye and Buya Muluu were the only ones left in office.
Commissioner Roselyne Akombe resigned prior to the October 20, 2017 repeat presidential election. The IEBC is not fully constituted despite the country’s imminent law reform referendum and the 2020 General election. The IEBC Act establishes the Commission comprising seven commissioners including the chairman.
These appointments aim to fulfill the Election laws ( Amendment) Act 2016, which aims to achieve the two-thirds gender rule and regional balance in short-listing, nomination or appointing persons as chairperson and members of the commissions.

By Lilian Waeni