Karua accuses gov’t of frustrating IEBC commissioners’ exit plan

Narc Kenya party leader, Martha Karua, has accused the government of frustrating plan to allow the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners to leave office by September 30, 2016, as recommended by the Joint Parliamentary Select Committee.

Speaking in Nakuru on Wednesday, September 28 after meeting the party’s county officials, Karua said while the commissioners’ exit date is just two days away, there is little that has been done in sorting out their exit package.

“Narc Kenya is concerned of what appears to be a deliberate and calculated delay in facilitating the exit of the current IEBC commissioners from office as there is no mechanism to guide the exit,” said Karua.

She called for speedy negotiations and resignation of the current commissioners in order to beat the September 30 deadline and give way for a new team to take office.

The meeting, which brought together Narc Kenya’s county leadership and members of the National Executive Council (NEC), sought to assess the party’s preparedness for the 2017 General Election.

This comes after IEBC chairman, Ahmed Issack Hassan, on Monday revealed that he, and his team, are unlikely to leave office before October 4, 2016 because that is the day the law paving the way for their exit will come into force.

Karua said that time was running out for the electoral body to prepare adequately for the polls saying the timelines set by the Joint Parliamentary Select Committee are likely to be missed.

She demanded that the process of appointment of new IEBC commissioners be fast tracked and be completed by November, so as to conform to the law which requires that new commissioners be appointed eight months before a General Election.

According to the IEBC Act, the electoral body should procure the electronic voter system at least eight months before the elections.

It also requires that IEBC engages a reputable body to audit the voters’ register within 30 days of commencement of the IEBC Act.

Karua also expressed shock on the deletion of the Election Offenses Act which she said can be a recipe for chaos and indiscipline in the electoral cycle.

“Parliament has promised to enact a separate Election Offenses Act. Absence of the offenses laws can plunge this country into chaos,” she noted.

Karua also expressed concern on the campaign spending ceilings set by the electoral commission ahead of 2017 polls claiming cash limits were part of a plan to scare average candidates from participating in elections.

She added that the limits were likely to reduce Kenya’s leadership to an auction that only favors the highest bidder.

She said the rules were a coded message to Kenyans that only those in the league of multi-billionaires can seek elective seats.

“This is clearly an attempt to limit the country’s leadership to the moneyed elite regardless of how the money has been acquired.”

She was accompanied by party Secretary General, Dr Ambrose Nzomo.

Meanwhile, Government Spokesman, Eric Kiraithe, has expressed optimism of a deal between the commissioners and the government to allow for their timely vacation from office.

He said that both the IEBC and the government have tabled their offers noting that a special meeting will be held Thursday, September 29 morning between IEBC chair Ahmed Issack Hassan and the commissioners; and later with government representatives to to discuss the offer.