Job Loss Risk in Govt Amid Raila-Ruto Peace Talks
Numerous government officials face the possibility of job termination following the consensus reached between President William Ruto and Raila Odinga, the leader of the Azimio party, to engage in peaceful discussions.
Included in the group are the individuals chosen for the panel responsible for selecting members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). This panel has the responsibility of hiring the chairperson and commissioners for the organization.
The reformation of the IEBC stood out as a primary concern that drove Raila to coordinate nationwide protests against the government. Furthermore, this topic is on the agenda for discussion following the initiation of a dialogue between the opposition leader and Ruto.
Azimio had formerly stated that the committee stood for governmental concerns, emphasizing that the present leadership was focused on preparations for the 2027 General Election rather than tackling vital concerns such as reducing the cost of living.
The future of the selection panel members – Bethuel Sugut, Novince Atieno, Charity Kisotu, Evans Misati, Benson Ngugi, Nelson Makanda, and Fatuma Saman – is currently characterized by uncertainty.
Ruto officially designated the seven individuals as members after the departure of the previous IEBC chairperson, Wafula Chebukati, and commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu, subsequent to the conclusion of their six-year tenure.
Significantly, the ongoing gatherings of the committee played a role in the failure of the initial bipartisan negotiations conducted by government and opposition-appointed legislators.
“We cannot have a referee who will be putting on a jersey of a particular team and purport to whistle as an independent person at the field. It is wrong and totally uncalled for in this country. We cannot go into the election unless everyone is given an opportunity to participate,” Stewart Madzayo, Senate minority leader, lamented.
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“What we want is a bipartisan effort similar to what we saw in 1997 with the Inter-Party Parliamentary Group (IPPG) so that stakeholders can all be brought to the table to constitute a commission that will have faith in,” Edwin Sifuna, Nairobi Senator and Orange Democratic Movement secretary general added in March 2023.
Azimio vs Kenya Kwanza
The Kenya Kwanza ruling alliance and the opposing party have reached a consensus to engage in talks regarding the restructuring of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the execution of the two-thirds gender principle, and the solidification of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Kimani Ichung’wah, the Majority Leader of the National Assembly who speaks on behalf of the government in these discussions, affirmed that the negotiations are set to start in the upcoming weeks. This comes after Azimio suggested that the talks should kick off on Monday, August 7th.
He, however, did not speak on the fate of the future of the IEBC selection panel.
Additional individuals from Kenya’s Kwanza region consist of Aaron Cheruiyot, Cecily Mbarire, who serves as the Governor of Embu, Hassan Omar, a Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), and Catherine Wambilianga, the Woman Representative for Bungoma.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, National Assembly Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi, Democratic Action Party leader Eugene Wamalwa, Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni, and Malindi MP Amina Mnyanzi are set to be representatives of the Azimio coalition.
Job Loss Risk in Govt Amid Raila-Ruto Peace Talks
