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Election Observer Group (ELOG) wants IEBC selection to proceed with the process of picking new electoral agency commissioners as bi-partisan talks between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio continue to stall the process.
ELOG’s National Coordinator Mulle Musau said the panel chaired by Nelson Makanda is legally in office and should go ahead with interviews and table candidates to Parliament for vetting.
"The panel should go ahead and interview shortlisted candidates then give Parliament the names. Parliament will then have to decide whether to throw off everything and start afresh because the panel is legitimately in office and Kenyans are paying for their salaries," Musau stated in an interview with the Star on Thursday.
The panel chaired by Nelson Makanda had announced that nine hundred and twenty-five Kenyans had applied for the position of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Commissioners by the close of the applications deadline.
ELOG warned that the current political stalemate has created a constitutional crisis as IEBC is unable to effectively execute its mandates that include managing upcoming by-elections in Magarini, Lagdera and Banisa and also commencing boundary delimitation exercise which is behind schedule.
"IEBC cannot move because it is not properly constituted. This is a constitutional crisis that must be addressed," Musau added.
Kenya Kwanza's bipartisan team led by Tharaka MP Gitonga Murugara once again invited their Azimio counterparts to resume the stalled talks following the suspension of anti-government protests this week.
"We want to tell our counterparts that we are still ready for talks but time will not be there forever," Murugara said.
Azimio has on the other hand accused their counterparts of lacking good faith leading to the suspension of the talks.
ELOG also supported a proposal by religious leaders to have an expanded dialogue to help resolve the current stalemate.
"Let Kenya Kwanza and Azimio invite religious leaders, civil society groups if they cannot agree between them," Musau said.