MPs pass IEBC reforms report, delete party hopping clause

The National Assembly has adopted the report on the reformation of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) drafted by the Joint Parliamentary Select Committee (JPSC).

The only amendment considered in the report was the expunging of a clause that would have barred aspirants from defecting to other parties after losing nomination slots in their parties.

After the first day of debate, the report faced little resistance from the legislators on Thursday, with National Assembly Majority Leader, Aden Duale, having called on Jubilee MPs to desist from any further amendment proposals.

The Deputy Speaker, Joyce Laboso, further made things tough for amendment movers after she ruled that any further amendments should have the approval of Majority Leader Duale (Jubilee) and Minority Leader Francis Nyenze (CORD) since the report was reached following negotiations between the two coalitions.

In an earlier presser, Duale had said that as a party Jubilee was against party hopping calling on any person who had no faith in the nomination process to quit and join other parties.

He stated that the move by MPs on Wednesday to amend a clause that prohibits politicians from hoping to other parties was in defiance of both CORD and Jubilee leaders, saying such cases may set precedence for demands for further amendments.

“As Jubilee, we will not and do not entertain party hopping. If you feel nominations will be rigged, decided to be an independent candidate, move to PNU or Mashinani party. We must not be dishonest as MPs.”

He however said that since the clause had already been amendment members should move fast and pass the report to allow them to win within the strict timeliness set to finalise the process.

The Garissa Town MPs further called on legislators to move with speed to ensure the Bills are passed to ensure proper preparations for the next elections.

What Next?

Speaking at the floor of the House, Duale said that he would now publish the Elections Offenses Bill 2016 and the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill 2016, present them before the House next Tuesday for consideration with the hope that they would be passed and handed over to Senate for debate as MPs go on recess on September 2, 2016.

He, however, insisted that party hoping was a choice that politicians can make though stating that since parties are funded by taxpayers, leaders should be held accountable and prohibited from moving from one party to the other at freewill.

Duale spoke against ethnic-based politics saying it is the biggest threat to any country’s democracy.

@benjaminwafula