The reconstitution of the country’s electoral body and the debate on the consideration of Douglas Kanja as Police Inspector General will form part of the key agenda that lawmakers will consider when they resume sittings tomorrow after a three-week recess.
Both the Senate and the National Assembly are scheduled to resume normal business tomorrow afternoon.
Speaking after attending a solemn service at Chebukwa Catholic Church in Bungoma County yesterday, Nationa Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula confirmed the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will be given top priority.
Pending activities
Wetang’ula emphasized the urgency of addressing the IEBC issue as there were many pending commission activities which had stalled due to a lack of commissioners.
“We cannot afford further delays on boundary reviews or pending by-elections in our wards and constituencies. I urge those obstructing this process to reconsider their stance and allow the country to move forward,” he stated.
Wetang’ula also called on the Chief Justice to expedite court cases concerning the IEBC, stressing the need for prompt resolution to avoid further disruptions to the electoral process.
Wetangula’s sentiments comes after in July he promised to unveil the selection panel that will recruit the new commissioners to sit in IEBC after the term of the other commissioners expired.
The selection panel will comprise 2 persons nominated by the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC); one representing the majority party and another from the minority party, three persons nominated by the Political Parties Liaison Committee; one not from a parliamentary party.
IEBC Commissioners
It will also include one person nominated by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and one nominated by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya. Two other persons will be nominated by the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya.
The commission was left vacant after Former IEBC Commissioner Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Boya Mulu and Abdi Guliye completed their six-year non-renewable contract.
The other four commissioners Juliana Cherera, Francis Wandera, Irene Masit, and Justus Nyang’aya—who disputed the 2022 presidential election results announced by Chebukati exited the commission before their term was completed.
On the appointment of IG, the National Assembly is expected to on Wednesday consider the report of the joint committee of National Assembly Administration and Internal Security and that of the Senate Internal Security, Defence and Foreign Relations that vetted and approved Kanja.
Reads the Wednesday order paper: “special motion – consideration of the nominee for appointment as inspector-general of the national police service (The co-chairperson, Joint Parliamentary Committee on vetting of the nominee for appointment as the Inspector General of the National Police Service).”
IEBC Commissioners
In the senate, the report was approved after Baringo Senator William Cheptumo who chairs the Senate Internal Security and Defence Committee moved the motion on August 20 at a time when the National Assembly had gone on recess.
President William Ruto on July 25 nominated Kanja as the new Inspector General of Police to take over from Japhet Koome who resigned from his position.
Kanja who initially had taken over the said position as acting IG was later relinquished of his position and left it to DIG of Administration Police Gilbert Masengeli following his nomination. Masengeli has since been acting as the IG.
Before his appointment, Kanja, 60, served as the commandant of the General Service Unit since 2018. He also held the position of Deputy Commandant of the GSU for three years and was the County Police Commander in charge of Kilifi County.
He has also served as Deputy Commandant of the Kenya Airports Police Unit, Chief Armourer at the Police Headquarters and Deputy Chief Armourer at the Kenya Police Service headquarters.
