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The Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Coordination, and Parliamentary Affairs), Jenister Mhagama who behalf of government ,accepted the new changes to the now former National Electoral Commission stated that the parliamentary committee advised against the NEC director serving as the secretary of the recruitment committee.
She endorsed the changes made and is optimistic that this will go a long way to enhance the work of the commission.
“We have agreed with the committee that instead of specifying the position and qualities of the director, there will be an inclusive qualification such as a senior public servant who is capable of doing the work,” she said.
Mhagama added that the government’s requirement is for the recruitment committee to bring in commission members with the necessary qualifications.
The minister further stated that the government has accepted the recommendation proposed by most lawmakers to change the name of the commission to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“Stakeholders proposed adding the word ‘independent’ to the name of the commission… the government has no objection to that because even the country’s constitution, sections 11 and 7, clearly state the independence of the commission,” she said.
Ms Mhagama also emphasised that adding the word ‘independent’ to the commission’s name does not imply that it was not independent before, as it has already supervised several elections and includes representation from both ruling and opposition parties in the national assembly.
