Civil Society calls for withdrawal of Charles Nyachae and Joy Mdivo from IEBC race
Civil Society calls for withdrawal of Charles Nyachae and Joy Mdivo from IEBC race
Civil Society calls for the withdrawal of Charles Nyachae and KPLC Board Chairperson Joy Mdivo from the IEBC chair race.
The Kenya National Civil Society Centre (KNCSC) has lauded the withdrawal of lawyer Katwa Kigen from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) race and subsequently called for the withdrawal of two more applicants.
In a statement dated April 13, the society called for two applicants for the chairmanship position, Charles Nyachae and Joy Masinde-Mdivo, to withdraw from the race due to their closeness with the government of the day.
“The Kenya National Civil Society Centre (KNCSC) calls on applicants for the position of Chairperson and membership of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), who have been accused publicly of being too close to the powers that be to search their conscience, smell the coffee and consider withdrawing voluntarily from the recruitment process as lawyer Katwa Kigen has honourably done,” the statement read.
According to the KNCSC, the appointment of the two into office would irredeemably compromise the independence and the performance of the commission.
“For the avoidance of doubt, and because they seem to have failed to heed the public concerns hiding in their plain sight, the KNCSC takes this opportunity to particularly appeal to two of the 11 applicants for the position of chairperson of the IEBC – Charles Nyachae and Joy Masinde-Mdivo, who have since availed themselves for the interview – to seriously search their consciences in light of their well-known and publicised political allegiances and associations, whether they still want to be considered for possible appointment,” the statement continued.
Citing Article 88 of the Constitution, which outlines the independence of the IEBC, the society noted that only individuals of credible integrity and who have not been entangled with political parties be considered for the position.
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Signed by Suba Chirchil, the KNSCS executive director, the statement ended with a call for the two to heed the concerns of Kenyans questioning their integrity and withdraw from the race.
Mdivo is the current chair of the Kenya Power board, while Nyachae chairs the board for the Kenya School of Government.
Efforts to have them kicked off the race gained momentum a few weeks ago after Operation Linda Jamii filed a petition in court alleging that their consideration for the position was unconstitutional as they both held public office.
“By shortlisting persons who are constitutionally disqualified, the IEBC selection panel has violated the Constitution and the principles of good governance, transparency, and accountability,” part of the petition read.
On Wednesday, April 10, Katwa Kigen, who had been shortlisted as a member of the commission, withdrew from the race following concerns about his closeness with President William Ruto.
The lawyer prominently represented the president at the International Criminal Court (ICC), where he was facing charges over his alleged role in the 2007 post-election skirmishes.
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