19 February, 2009

Kenya: New chair for Electoral Commission


Kenya has appointed a city lawyer, Cecil Guyana Miller, as the new chairman of the Interim Independent Electoral Commission. The chair of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitution, Abdikadir Mohammed disclosed on Tuesday morning. Parliament is expected to confirm the nomination.
Kenya parliament
Mohammed said that Miller had the experience needed to trigger reforms in the electoral commission. Miller was the lead counsel in the Kriegler Commission that recommended the disbandment of the body after the violence that rocked the country in 2007/2008 leading to displacements, deaths and destruction of properties.

Former speaker of the National Assembly, Francis Ole Kaparo, was among those shortlisted for the top post. Others included former executive director of the Institute of Education and Democracy, Dr Koki Muli, former commissioner to the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission, Ms Alice Yano and former Kenya National Commission on Human Rights boss Maina Kiai.

Mohammed and his team have now been tasked to select the other members of the Electoral body. Miller holds an LLB degree from the University of Warwick-UK (Honours), an LLM from the University of London, Kings College and a Post Graduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.

Jack Shaka, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya

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