7 Issues Jubilee, CORD Have Agreed on IEBC

                                     President Uhuru Kenyatta and CORD leader Raila Odinga

The Joint Parliamentary Select Committee on matters relating to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Friday finally agreed on seven issues that will see reforms in the electoral body.

In a press statement, the committee composed of leaders from Jubilee and CORD coalitions noted that they had consented to a dignified negotiated vacation from office of the current IEBC commissioners.

The commission stated that a selection panel will be constituted to conduct the process of recruiting new commissioners, who will replace the dismissed officials.

Previous reports on this indicated that the two parties had endorsed a panel which would consist of nine members, five from religious groups and four from the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC). They also agreed that the PSC would produce the secretary to the panel.

The committee also settled on the establishment of a legal framework for the verification of the Principal Register of Voters, the use of Information Technology and Communication (IEBC) in the 2017 General Election and the timelines relating to the process of nomination of candidates by political parties

The legislators further recommended that a legal framework be formed for the conduct and supervision of the nomination of candidates by political parties before a general election including the role of the IEBC in the process.

Lastly, the committee shook hands on the establishment of a legal framework that will guide the announcement, collation and declaration of results for the election of the President, Governors, MPs and MCAs.

The lawmakers who have been in long and heated deliberations for the past 30 days, mentioned that details of the consensus will be availed later after it had passed through parliamentary procedures.

The joint select committee was formed to look into the IEBC stalement after the Opposition led by Raila Odinga stated that the electoral body could not be trusted to conduct a free and fair election.