EAC assembly delays electoral Bill
Feb 21, 2010
THE East African Legislative Assembly has delayed the Bill seeking to establish an electoral commission to manage elections in the region.
By Milton Olupot
THE East African Legislative Assembly has delayed the Bill seeking to establish an electoral commission to manage elections in the region.
The East African Community Elections Bill proposes the creation of an electoral commission to reduce the influence of individual partner states in elections.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Abdirahim Abdi, announced the decision in Kampala recently.
Abdallah Mwinyi who hails from Tanzania attributed the delay to the failure by the stakeholders to submit proposals on the Bill.
He noted that the East African Council of ministers had also not pronounced itself on the Bill.
“We would like to seek more views on this matter before we can present the final report to the House,†he said.
The Bill, introduced by Wandera Ogalo of Uganda, seeks to create an electoral commission.
It aims at curtailing post-election violence that characterised the last elections in some of the community member states.
The Bill proposes that the public service commissions of the partner states nominate members to the commission.
Ogalo said there was need for an impartial electoral commission that enjoys the confidence of the people.
“Without having the confidence of the people, they will always question the commission’s decisions and we get into situations like the aftermath of the elections in Kenya,†he said.
Members of the legal committee expressed the need to have the Bill amended to reduce its mandate from organising and conducting elections to setting standards that will be followed by the national electoral bodies.
THE East African Legislative Assembly has delayed the Bill seeking to establish an electoral commission to manage elections in the region.
The East African Community Elections Bill proposes the creation of an electoral commission to reduce the influence of individual partner states in elections.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Abdirahim Abdi, announced the decision in Kampala recently.
Abdallah Mwinyi who hails from Tanzania attributed the delay to the failure by the stakeholders to submit proposals on the Bill.
He noted that the East African Council of ministers had also not pronounced itself on the Bill.
“We would like to seek more views on this matter before we can present the final report to the House,†he said.
The Bill, introduced by Wandera Ogalo of Uganda, seeks to create an electoral commission.
It aims at curtailing post-election violence that characterised the last elections in some of the community member states.
The Bill proposes that the public service commissions of the partner states nominate members to the commission.
Ogalo said there was need for an impartial electoral commission that enjoys the confidence of the people.
“Without having the confidence of the people, they will always question the commission’s decisions and we get into situations like the aftermath of the elections in Kenya,†he said.
Members of the legal committee expressed the need to have the Bill amended to reduce its mandate from organising and conducting elections to setting standards that will be followed by the national electoral bodies.