IEBC chair nominee Wafula Chebukati has received a rare backing, after ODM lawmakers decided to support his nomination to head the electoral commission.
ODM secretary for political affairs Opiyo Wandayi has today; Monday noted that the opposition would support Chebukati and six nominees for commissioner posts when the names are tabled in the house on Tuesday.
The nominees have come under sharp scrutiny since their names were made public, with the National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee noting that most of the nominees lacked the right credentials and skills needed to manage this year’s elections.
Chebukati’s nomination also raised questions from leaders and Kenyans alike, after it emerged that there were other candidates who had done better than him during the interviews.
The president was presented with a list of two nominees for the chairperson’s seat, and nine for the commissioners, before settling on Chebukati.
There were more questions on the regional balance in the nominations, with Chebukati and the current IEBC Chief Executive Officer Ezra Chiloba hailing from the same area, Trans Nzoia.
The house will have a chance to vet them on Tuesday, before deciding on their future.