Fight in CORD delays setting up of IEBC reform team

CORD Leader Raila Odinga at the home of Kajiado Central MP Memusi Kanchori (left) for a thanksgiving ceremony. A power struggle within CORD has stalled the formation of a special parliamentary team on electoral reforms. (PHOTO: FILE/ STANDARD)

A power struggle within CORD has stalled the formation of a special parliamentary team on electoral reforms.

The tussle, involving Opposition coalition partners ODM, Ford Kenya and Wiper played out on Tuesday night during a closed-door House Business Committee meeting convened to consider representatives from CORD and Jubilee to the team on electoral reforms.

The infighting is about the replacement of Mogotio MP Hellen Sambili, who declined her nomination to the team.

Sources say Moses Wetang’ula’s Ford Kenya has insisted that Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale takes up the post.

But Raila Odinga’s ODM prefers a woman MP.

Disagreements within CORD have stalled the formation of a Parliamentary team to investigate the electoral commission.

The ODM party and its coalition partners, Ford Kenya and Wiper, are locked in a stalemate over who will replace Mogotio MP Hellen Sambili (Kanu) to the joint committee on electoral reforms.

The disagreements spilled into a meeting of the House Business Committee (HBC), which schedules parliamentary business, on Tuesday evening.

The committee, chaired by Speaker Justin Muturi, is said to have given CORD 48 hours to agree on a replacement for Prof Sambili, after Ford Kenya allegedly insisted that the slot should go to Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale. ODM prefers a woman MP to replace Sambili who declined the nomination.

Leader of Majority Aden Duale (Garissa Town) confirmed that the Opposition was yet to agree on the final list, which had delayed the tabling of the motion.

The committee, which has seven representatives each from CORD and Jubilee, is expected to solve the impasse on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) over which the Opposition has staged public protests.

Mr Duale said he would give a notice of motion on the list today if he received the names, with debate expected on Tuesday next week.

"We are ready to table the names if we get the CORD list before tomorrow (today) afternoon," said Duale.

Deputy Minority Leader Jakoyo Midiwo yesterday said CORD was still working on its final list. Sources said after Sambili declined the offer, CORD principals Raila Odinga (ODM), Moses Wetang'ula (Ford Kenya) and Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper) decided she should be replaced with a woman MP from Western region.

Sambili declined the nomination on grounds that her party, Kanu, is in partnership with the ruling Jubilee coalition and could not accept an offer from CORD.

But Mr Wetang'ula, who is also the minority leader and the only one of the CORD principals who is a Member of Parliament, reportedly picked Dr Khalwale, triggering the standoff.

Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga opened a Pandora's box on Tuesday when she led a group of women MPs in claiming that the CORD list was skewed in favour of men and that it needed review. At the HBC meeting, in which she sits, Ms Wanga raised the matter again.

"The list was brought to the HBC and we said it should have gender balance. We were given more time to consult and address the matter. The leadership of our coalition was in the meeting and we hope they will take our plea into consideration," Wanga said.

The demand that Sambili be replaced by a female MP was said to have presented a dilemma to the Opposition, amid murmurs that some senior CORD politicians wanted Khalwale to give up his position on the select committee.

There were reports that the CORD leadership in the HBC had attempted to withdraw Khalwale's name from the list, leading to resistance from their partners in the coalition.

Coalition Chief Whip Chris Wamalwa said if anyone was to be replaced, it should be an ODM member.

According to the MP, the three parties that form the coalition had agreed on the number of nominees, and the list signed by members of the coalition's management committee.

They had also agreed on an equal number of names from the National Assembly and the Senate.

"It is the ODM side that has delayed giving its names. We had agreed on the names each party was to give. If Wanga wants to be included on the select committee, let her replace an ODM member. Any attempt to replace Khalwale is not acceptable," said Mr Wamalwa.