In what is a sly move to move the election date from August to December, a section of Jubilee MPs from Mount Kenya are backing calls to disband the IEBC.

Is there a story unfolding in your community? Let Hivisasa know

The MPs want the date changed saying the August date is ‘inconvenient’ if a new team takes over at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

In what could be a well-orchestrated move to lengthen their terms in office, the MPs want the entire IEBC and the secretariat overhauled.

The Nation has reported that the MPs ‘feel’ Kenyans have lost faith in the IEBC and it is time to remake it but the restructuring should follow the Constitution.

Mukurwe-ini MP Kabando Wa Kabando and Kanini Kega (Kieni), Annah Gathecha (Kiambu women rep), Mithika Linturi (Igembe South), Esther Murugi (Nyeri Town), Peter Weru (Mathira) and Robert Pukose (Endebes) are those who are pushing for the disbandment.

Kabando, Kega, Pukose and Gathecha are the ones who support changing the election date from August to December but Linturi, Priscilla Nyokabi (Nyeri County women rep), Murugi and Nelson Gaichuhie (Subukia) said they have no problem with the election date despite supporting reforms at the IEBC.

Gathecha said: “Reading of the national budget for the entire East Africa countries was harmonised to be on the same date in June. This month is too close to August and things might not go well. We need to change the date as we carry our restructuring measures in IEBC.”

Kabando said overhauling the IEBC will mean a totally new recruitment process, familiarisation and setting brand-new platforms.

Pukose said the election date should be changed to March 2018, but only after restructuring the entire IEBC including its secretariat.

“This will give the new IEBC officials time as well as allow elected leaders to serve their full five-year term,” he said.

Gaichuhie said the best thing to do is dismantle the IEBC and build a new team.