IEBC chair Isaack Hassan pleads with coalitions to spare team

Embattled electoral body chairman Isaack Hassan has pleaded with Jubilee and CORD coalitions not to disband the commission. He told journalists in Mombasa yesterday that he was ready to accept any political settlement between the Government and the Opposition on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission's (IEBC) future.

He warned that such removal of the electoral body will negatively affect next year's elections.

"I will strongly advice against that route. I hope they don't go that route but if it is a political solution, we are Kenyans and we shall see how it plays out," said the IEBC chairman when asked if he is willing to quit as a result of a political deal between CORD and Jubilee.

Mr Hassan called on the parties to the IEBC contest to reach a settlement fast to enable the commission make preparations for the 2017 polls.

The chairman has softened his previous declaration that he cannot resign if pushed to.

"It would not be the first time a commission is being disbanded. We will cross the bridge when we come to it," he told the Press.

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He said a new electoral body will face immense problems preparing for next year's polls.

The chairman spoke as the Taita Taveta ODM branch piled pressure on him to go and accused Jubilee coalition of stalling reforms at the electoral agency.