Member of Parliament for Nyaribari Chache, Zaheer Jhanda, has proposed changes to Kenya's electoral system. He suggests that political parties should nominate candidates for party-list seats after the General Election, rather than submitting the lists before voting. This change would allow the outcome of the General Election to determine the number of party-list seats available to each party. Jhanda's proposal aims to make party-list nominations more directly connected to the electoral outcome.
Under the current system, party lists for special seats in the National Assembly, Senate, and county assemblies are submitted to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) before the General Election. According to Article 90 of the Constitution, each political party participating in a General Election must submit a list of persons who would be nominated if the party were entitled to all the available seats. The Elections Act requires political parties to submit their party lists to IEBC at least 45 days before the General Election.
Jhanda's proposal would require parties to participate in the elections and then submit the final party-list nominations after the results are announced. This would establish the number of seats each party is entitled to. The proposed system would retain constitutional requirements on transparency, fairness, and proportional representation. Jhanda believes that this change is an important issue that deserves serious public and legislative debate.
The current system has been in place for some time, but Jhanda argues that his proposal would improve the process. By submitting party-list nominees after the election results, the nominations would be more directly connected to the electoral outcome. This change would also allow parties to adjust their nominations based on the actual number of seats they have won.
For Jhanda's proposal to be implemented, Parliament would need to consider the necessary legislative changes. Any changes would need to be consistent with Article 90 of the Constitution and the wider constitutional framework governing representation. This would require careful consideration and debate by lawmakers.
Jhanda's proposal has sparked interest and debate among Kenyans. Some may argue that the current system is transparent and fair, while others may see the benefits of Jhanda's proposed changes. As the debate unfolds, it will be interesting to see how different stakeholders respond to Jhanda's proposal.
The 2027 General Election is on the horizon, and discussions about the electoral system are timely. Jhanda's proposal highlights the need for ongoing evaluation and improvement of Kenya's electoral processes. As the country prepares for the next election, stakeholders will be watching closely to see how this proposal develops.
Key points
- MP Zaheer Jhanda proposes submitting party-list nominees after election results.
- The proposed system would make party-list nominations more directly connected to the electoral outcome.
- Parliament would need to consider legislative changes for Jhanda's proposal to be implemented.
