Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta has set up a joint committee of both the National Assembly and the Senate to resolve the stalemate over the electoral body. Speaking at State House Wednesday shortly before the reading of the budget, President Kenyatta agreed to the formation of the committee outside parliament that will hear and collate views of various stakeholders on the issue of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). The move could be a breakthrough for the country which has been facing a standoff between the government and the opposition over IEBC. Five people have been killed and properties destroyed in the weekly demonstrations called by the opposition.
The Head of State said that he hopes that the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) – which has been leading weekly demonstrations to demand for the resignation of the IEBC accusing them of bias, incompetence and corruption – will buy into the idea as the constitutional means of resolving the dispute over IEBC.
Mr Kenyatta made the announcement after meeting religious leaders at states where he said that all stakeholders and initiatives to resolve the issue of the IEBC will now direct their views to the joint committee.
Full Article: Kenya Moves to Resolve Electoral Body Stalemate With Joint House Committee – allAfrica.com.
