IEBC selection panel to announce names of shortlisted candidates

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection panel will soon publish names of those shortlisted for interviews to fill the vacant positions of the Chairperson of the commission and Commissioners.

The chairperson of the selection panel, Dr. Nelson Makanda, has confirmed that his team resumed operations after bipartisan talks between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja stalled.

Makanda says they had slowed down on the process to give a chance to the bipartisan committee, but they have been left with no option but to continue with the process following the disagreement between the ruling Kenya Kwanza and Azimio coalition party.

“Somebody must do this work, we need to have a commission in place, and the onus is on us to do the work,” Makanda said.

“The process is continuing, and we will soon be publishing names of the successful candidates that will come for the interview. I want to promise Kenyans that we will do a good job and we will be fair to ensure that we come out with the best candidates,” he added.

He likewise urged politicians to shelve their personal interests to allow for the country to move forward as it is imperative for the IEBC commission to be in place.

Makanda’s sentiments come as politicians continue to haggle over the botched bipartisan talks.

Kenya Kwanza committee members have once again appealed to their Azimio counterparts to resume the talks, emphasizing on the need to constitute IEBC.

According to George Murugara, who chairs the Kenya Kwanza members, the talks need to resume to enable them to deal with pressing issues facing the country.

‘’We are willing to reengage, we are ready to continue with the talks, we will resume from where we stopped, the issue of IEBC remains the most important agenda, how to reconstitute it, but we must emphasize that all the engagements must happen within the confines of the law,” Murugara said.

In a quick rejoinder, Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo however dismissed calls to return to the negotiating table, insisting that their Kenya kwanza counterparts are not sincere.

“My authority as the chair of the bipartisan talks draws from the Azimio parliamentary group and its leadership. If I am mandated to re-engage then I will do so, but in my opinion, the reasons that made us leave the talks are still there,” he said.