Constitutional Affairs Minister Eugene Wamalwa. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) could soon be required to issue regular updates of its activities as the Executive seeks to manage the flow of information ahead of the March General Election. Mr. Wamalwa said that such updates would defuse the political tension that has been rising lately. Photo/FILE
What you need to know:
Among the constitutional offices that are to be set up long after official deadlines include the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission, the Registrar of Political Parties, the National Police Service Commission, and the National Land Commission.
Also pending is the drafting of a law to regulate operations of the national government, a Bill which should have been enacted in February together with the County Governments Bill.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) could soon be required to issue regular updates of its activities as the Executive seeks to manage the flow of information ahead of the March General Election.
Justice minister Eugene Wamalwa said that such updates would defuse the political tension that has been rising lately.
“It is very important that in the remaining four months to elections, citizens are updated every week on the country’s preparedness to hold elections on schedule,” Mr Wamalwa said in Nairobi yesterday at the launch of the Constitution Implementation Commission’s first annual report.
CIC chairman Charles Nyachae had requested for the updates. The growing independence of the Judiciary has left IEBC as the most critical agency whose affairs the government has to manage properly to avoid poll violence.
“We appreciate that a number of reforms have been implemented, but much still needs to be done to ensure that the March 4 elections are conducted peacefully,” said Mr Nyachae said.
IEBC’s recently botched procurement of biometric voter registration kits has sparked debate on the country’s preparedness to hold the General Election as scheduled.
CIC believes that such debates have resulted from an information gap created by IEBC.
In its country updates, the World Bank says that peaceful political transition is the missing link in Kenya’s return to high growth, having achieved low inflation and currency stability.
In its two years of existence, CIC says its push to implement the Constitution according to the official calendar has met strong resistance from other government departments.
Frequent alteration of some Bills by the Cabinet, negative campaigns waged by politicians, delay in setting up constitutional offices, and late submission of Bills by drafters have slowed down the commission’s work, officials said.
Among the constitutional offices that are to be set up long after official deadlines include the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission, the Registrar of Political Parties, the National Police Service Commission, and the National Land Commission.
Also pending is the drafting of a law to regulate operations of the national government, a Bill which should have been enacted in February together with the County Governments Bill.
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