IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati

The Senate has approved the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Amendment Bill 2022 as passed by the National Assembly without any further amendments.

28 Senators voted to accept the Bill while 7 voted against it as they wanted some amendments included.

The IEBC Bill, which is sponsored by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa, seeks to change the composition of the selection panel that oversees the filling of vacant positions in the Commission.

The IEBC Amendment Bill was passed in the National assembly  in 2022.

The Bill proposes the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) should have two slots, the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya two and one slot each for the Public Service Commission (PSC), Political Parties Liaison Committee (PPLC) and Law Society of Kenya (LSK).

In the current law, PSC had four slots in the panel.

IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye retired on Tuesday after serving for six years as provided for in the constitution.

Commissioners Juliana Cherera, Justus Nyang’aya and Francis Wanderi resigned in the wake of their suspension and formation of a tribunal to investigate their conduct in the August 9, 2022, general election.

With the Bill having been approved by both Houses of Parliament, it will now be forwarded to President William Ruto who could assent it to law by Friday or latest Monday ahead of the declaration of the vacancy at the electoral body.

IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye retired on Tuesday after serving for six years as provided for in the constitution.

Commissioners Juliana Cherera, Justus Nyang’aya and Francis Wanderi resigned in the wake of their suspension and formation of a tribunal to investigate their conduct in the August 9, 2022, general election.