A section of Jubilee coalition legislators want retired Anglican Archbishop Eliud Wabukala to chair the new electoral body.
The five MPs, led by Gatundu South’s Moses Kuria, said a religious leader should be given the job for Kenyans to have trust in the 2017 electoral process.
This comes after IEBC Chairman Issack Hassan and his team agreed to exit the commission following discussions with the Joint Select Committee of Parliament.
They however want to be paid salaries and benefits amounting to almost Sh200 million that they would have received if they served their full term.
The nine commissioners also want to be granted immunity over corruption and conspiracy to rig 2013 polls allegations.
“As Jubilee, we want the job of managing the electoral process to be in the hands of religious leaders to avoid disputes and controversies that erupt due to political suspicions. Jubilee will support Archbishop Eliud Wabukala to be the next Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman. We want elections to be managed by religious leaders,” said Kuria at Ematia Baptist church in Kakamega County during a funds drive.
Other leaders present at the event were; Water Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, and MPs Ayub Savula (Lugari) Stephen Kariuki (Mathare), and Leonard Sang (Bureti).
Wamalwa who is eyeing Nairobi County gubernatorial seat asked the Committee on IEBC reforms to consider giving the commissioners a dignified send off.
“The select committee should set aside political party differences and start the process of preparing for elections,” he said.