The process to jump start the bipartisan approach to address matters raised by Azimio leader Raila Odinga is in top gear with the parliamentary leaders of the two political divides ready to set up a team before the end of this week.

On Sunday, President William Ruto while calling on Raila Odinga to call off planned protests, proposed a bipartisan approach to resolve the ongoing stalemate with the opposition regarding the recruitment of new electoral commissioners.

The composition of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has been one of the demands made by the Azimio la Umoja leadership.

President Ruto yesterday morning met the Kenya Kwanza parliamentary leadership at State House to plan on how the matters in question will be addressed.

“We have asked the parliamentary leadership of both houses to consider our proposal for a bipartisan approach to addressing the matters raised by the opposition as a priority,” Ruto tweeted.

“We are convinced the issues shall be conclusively handled by parliament in order to allow us to focus on our economic transformation programme,”

Majority leaders

Present during the meeting were National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah (Leader of the Majority in the National Assembly), Aaron Cheruiyot (Leader of the Majority Senate), Owen Baya, the deputy majority leader at the National Assembly and his Senate counterpart Steve Lelegwe.

In a televised address on Sunday evening, the Head of State called on the opposition leader to call off planned demonstrations to allow parliament to look into his concerns on the recruitment of the new commissioners of the IEBC.

“Considering the matters raised on this particular subject, I suggest a bi-partisan engagement in Parliament on the reconstitution of the IEBC panel within the parameters of the law and the constitution,” Ruto said.

Ichung’wah told People Daily yesterday that he will be meeting with the Minority side to discuss the composition of the team to be ready by the time parliament resumes from recess next Tuesday.

Asked what the committee’s scope of work entails, Ichungw’a said the first business would be to re-look into the existing law which needs to be amended to allow changes.

The team’s first task will be to propose amendments to the IEBC Act on the composition and appointment of commissioners which has been the bone of contention.

Minority Whip Junet Mohammed said the leadership of the two sides will be meeting in the next two days to discuss areas of action. He said the Committee will comprise 14 members, each side producing seven members

 “We want the matter to be fast tracked to end the impasse and allow the electoral body to take off” Junet said adding that he has opted out of the team to pave way for others to spearhead.

 President Ruto assented into law, the IEBC Act in January which proposes the expansion of the IEBC selection panel to include two slots for the Parliamentary Service Commission, the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya to have two slots, one slot for the Public Service Commission and another slot each for the Political Parties Liaison Committee and the Law Society of Kenya.

Raila has however accused the President of deliberately attempting to influence the recruitment of the new team that will replace commissioners who retired, resigned or was removed from office over gross misconduct and abuse of office.

Those on the seven-member selection panel recruiting new commissioners are Bethuel Sugut and Novice Euralia Atieno, representing the Parliamentary Service Commission.

Others are Charity Kisotu, the vice chairperson of the Public Service Commission (PSC), and Evans Misati James from the Political Parties Liaison Committee.

The Law Society of Kenya is represented by Benson Ngugi Njeri while Nelson Makanda and Fatuma Saman represent the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya.

Makanda, a theologian, was picked to chair the panel that has already advertised vacancies in the commission. Ruto had last month declined to halt the process of recruiting new commissioners, saying he followed the law while forming the recruitment panel.

“I will not operate outside the law. I will not operate outside the Constitution. I will ensure that everyone in Kenya is governed by the law. The IEBC selection committee has been constituted according to the law. Every institution that was supposed to front a representative has already done so,” he said.

“What I did is just to gazette the panel. I don’t have any individual that I have fronted to represent my interests. The constitution does not have any provisions that can allow the President to front anyone. I will not do what our friends in the opposition are telling me to do. They want to have their personal interests represented and will not succumb to that. If we follow that route we will be promoting impunity in Kenya.”

Ruto said the protests called by the opposition chief had left a trail of destruction and loss of lives, threatening the country’s economic stability.

Lives lost

“Three Kenyans, among them a police officer have lost their lives in the protests. More than four hundred Kenyans, including at least 60 security officers have been injured. A police vehicle was burnt to ashes, while another was hijacked and commandeered by unruly protestors. Two houses of worship were burnt down. Kiosks, supermarkets and a mortuary were looted.

“… In view of the recent events that led to the loss of lives and property in the demonstrations, I urge my brother Raila and the opposition to call off the demonstrations and to give this bipartisan approach a chance for us to take the country forward,” Ruto said.

Raila welcomed Ruto’s “statement that I regard as important” but insisted the bipartisan committee be established immediately and with “strict timelines”, failing which the coalition warned of a return to mass action next week .  “We agree that a balanced parliamentary process co-chaired by both sides and backed by external experts from outside should proceed. In our view, this committee should be composed with immediate effect with strict deadlines for resolving the crisis facing the country.”