High court has declined the petition by to Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah seeking to stop the ongoing recruitment of the Chairperson and six members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Instead, the court directed that the matter be heard by inter parties on April 13, 2023.
“I have considered submissions by parties; I note this is a matter of great public interests should be disposed of expeditiously. So, I direct as follows; responses be filed by COB today. We shall proceed to hearing of the main petition, the petition to be filed by April 8, and responses by April 11, highlighting on April 13. I decline to grant any orders at this stage,” Judge Mugure Thande ruled.
Moreover, Senator Okiya Omtatah had filed a petition in court seeking to suspend all actions and activities of the Selection Panel including the recruitment of the IEBC chairman and members.
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Okiya Omtatah wanted the court to stop the parliamentary process until changes are made in the structure of the selection panel and a declaration that the IEBC (Amendment) Act No.1 of 2023 is unconstitutional.
Likewise, the Busia senator wants the court to stop the appointment pending determination of the lawsuit should IEBC officials be nominated, and names be forwarded to President William Ruto.