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Old voters’ register to be used in by-elections, says Mutula

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Published on Sunday, 24 May 2009 04:53
The Bomachoge and Shinyalu by-elections will be held without a reviewed national voters’ register. Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo said a formula would be given how to conduct the two by-elections, which

he termed a test case for the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) of Kenya."A formula will be given for Shinyalu and Bomachoge by-elections because we do not have to wait for the voters’ registers to be reviewed," he said. Mutula said the rights of constituents in the two areas had been violated by lack of representation in Parliament.

The minister said the post-election crisis in 2007 and early 2008 pointed to the critical value of free and fair elections."If we reform the electoral process and bring to fore proper management of elections, the country will have achieved a major landmark in institutionalmanagement of elections at all cadres from civic to parliamentary," he said.

Took oath

Mutula was speaking after the swearing in of eight IIEC commissioners by Chief Justice Evan Gicheru.Those who took the oath are the IICE Chairman Ahmed Issack, commissioners Douglas Mwashigadi, Tiyah Galgalo, Hamara Aden, Kennedy Nyaundi, Yusuf Nzibo, Wilfred Waceke and Davis Chirchir.

The Bomachoge seat fell vacant after the court nullified Mr Joel Onyancha’s election, while in Shinyalu, MP Charles Lilechi Lugano died at a Nairobi hospital last week.The minister asked the commissioners to work hard and dedicate themselves national duty if they were to make any progress.

"The swearing in of the commissioners is a turning point for Kenya. The enactment of the Constitution of Kenya Amendment Act 2008 and the establishment of IIEC are important milestones in the reconstruction of our country," he said.Mutula said election petitions pending in courts would be addressed soon.

Sent home

There are more than 20 pending petitions still pending following the disbandment of the Electoral Commission of Kenya. ECK Chairman Samuel Kivuitu was sent home along with 21 commissioners in December, last year following recommendations by Kriegler Report.

The Ministry of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs is expected to hand over ECK assets to IIEC.