President Ruto Set to Sign IEBC Amendment Bill
By Charity Chebusiri
President Ruto is poised to sign the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Amendment Bill today, a pivotal step towards reforming Kenya’s electoral landscape. The bill’s passage through parliament follows recommendations from the National Dialogue Committee (Nadco), a bipartisan initiative aimed at fostering political reconciliation.
Statehouse spokesperson Hussein Mohammed confirmed that this bill is the first to be processed under Nadco’s recommendations, which emerged from extensive deliberations involving President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza coalition and opposition leader Raila Odinga’s Azimio la Umoja alliance. The committee was spearheaded by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka for Azimio la Umoja and National Assembly majority leader Kimani Ichung’wa for Kenya Kwanza.
“This bill signifies a historic moment as it paves the way for the appointment of a selection panel tasked with recruiting new commissioners for the IEBC,” stated Mohammed. President Ruto has invited leaders from parliamentary parties, both within and outside parliament, for discussions ahead of the signing ceremony at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
The establishment of Nadco last year was catalyzed by former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo’s call for dialogue between President Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga, amidst a backdrop of widespread anti-government protests. The committee’s efforts have culminated in this legislative breakthrough, reflecting a significant stride towards electoral reform and political stability in Kenya.
The signing of the IEBC Amendment Bill at the KICC today underscores a collaborative effort aimed at addressing longstanding electoral concerns, thereby setting a precedent for future bipartisan initiatives in the country’s governance framework.
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