NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 9 – President William Ruto has assented to the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) backed Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) 2024 that ushers in a new electoral law.
The Act contains among others an expanded recruitment panel that includes the electoral agency’s chairman and commissioners.
“The Assent to the IEBC Amendment Bill marks a significant step in the actualization of one of the recommendations of NADCO and the signing of this Bill paves way for the establishment of a selection panel for the appointment of IEBC Commissioners,” said Ruto.
Ruto noted that the Bill passed by Parliament based on the recommendations of the NADCO report will allow the reconstitution of the IEBC Commission to enable it carry out its key electoral functions including conducting elections and the boundaries review process.
“The IEBC remains a cornerstone of our democracy responsible for overseeing regular elections at various levels ensuring that our electoral cycle is managed transparently and administered in an impartial neutral, efficient, accurate and accountable manner,” he stated.
Ruto urged Parliament to expedite other recommendations in the NADCO report to process various Bills realized by the Dialogue committee.
During the signing at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), both opposition leader Raila Odinga and his Wiper counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka were present.
The National Dialogue Committee consisting of leaders drawn from both the Kenya Kwanza and Azimio coalition recommended a series of legislative proposals including the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Leader of Opposition Bill, 2024, and National Government Coordination (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
Others were Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Statutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and Political Parties (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
The NADCO deal was endorsed by Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka leading the Azimio Coalition and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah representing the Kenya Kwanza Coalition.
