National

IEBC commissioners to have ICT, accounting skills if proposal is approved

A file photo of lawmakers during a parliamentary session. (Photo: National Assembly)

By Bashir Mohammed | Tuesday, April 23, 2024

The committee's report states that the additional qualifications aim to enhance election management.

If the National Assembly's Justice and Legal Affairs Committee approves a proposal, the next commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will be required to have proven experience in either information communication and technology (ICT) or accounting, in addition to their degree from a recognized university.

The committee's report states that the additional qualifications aim to enhance election management, and it is not mandatory for commissioners to be lawyers.

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"The proposed additional experience in information and communication technology and accounting is consistent with the various functions of the commission, which include the use of technology and the prudent procurement of goods and services related to election conduct," the report said.

Committee Chairman George Murugara explained that experience in ICT and accounting will be essential for commissioners during elections. "We don't want people to go there and plead ignorance that they didn't know or never understood what was happening," he said.

Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah added, "Our elections are now technology-driven, and therefore we found it necessary that the commissioners to be nominated have the requisite knowledge in ICT... We do not need to fight against numbers or tallies. Tallying is a summation of numbers, and that is why we need accountants to make sure that one plus two is not three."

The committee has also suggested that the next IEBC chief executive officer serve a fixed six-year non-renewable term, like commissioners, and proposed that the current selection panel be sent home to pave the way for a new team to recruit the next commissioners.

The Electoral Commission had opposed reducing the commission's secretary's term of office from the current five years, citing concerns about experience drain. However, the commission suggested maintaining the current term or reviewing it for a single term of six years.

The House can accept the committee's report or reject it and proceed with the original provisions of the bill.