The battle to control the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) ahead of 2022 polls played out in Parliament yesterday when MPs voted to pass a Bill on recruitment of commissioners thereby giving Deputy President William Ruto the first win against former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The lawmakers cast their votes in a clear pattern that demonstrated their current political persuasion.
MPs perceived to be allied Ruto, who voted in support of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Amendment Bill, 2019, carried the day.
This was as a majority of MPs allied to Opposition leader Raila Odinga voted to reject the Bill by the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC).
Those opposed to the Bill had sought to have the current commissioners sent home to allow for fresh recruitment instead of replacing the four who have resigned.
Lawmakers from President Uhuru Kenyatta’s backyard of Mt Kenya were split, with a handful of them voting against the Bill that seeks to provide a mechanism for recruitment of new electoral commissioners whenever vacancies arise.
Of 126 MPs who participated in the afternoon vote, 69 lawmakers voted in support while 56 voted to reject the Bill.
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