afrol News, 18 September - Kenyan commission of inquiry set up to probe Kenya's disputed 2007 polls has called for transformed electoral commission.

Head of Commission of Inquiry into Post-Election Violence Judge Johann Kriegler who presented a report to president Mwai Kibaki and prime minister Raila Odinga said electoral commission lacks necessary independence and functional capacity to discharge its constitutional mandate.

"Even if you wanted a re-tallying of results, still you won’t have sorted out the mess. It would have been impossible to tell who won or who lost between the two of you. The decision to work together was the best for this country," Mr Kriegler said.

The commission said there was no evidence that Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) was guilty of rigging poll results in favour of president Kibaki or any other candidates.

"There is radical reform necessary to replace or transform the ECK with a new name possibly a new image composed of a lean policy-making body," Justice Kriegler said.

President Kibaki said government would examine recommendations in the report for implementation.

"The report will be presented to cabinet in its next sitting for consideration and approval of an implementation plan," said Mr Kibaki, saying coalition government would examine all issues and recommendations in report with aim for speedy implementation.

He said even though Kenya had in the past experienced problems in elections, last year’s was particularly controversial. "It is therefore appropriate that for the first time, we have initiated a major review of the electoral process so as to reform it," he said.

Commission also recommended that country should adopt a new voter registration system to restore electoral integrity.

The commission of inquiry held public meetings around the country where members of the public, electoral officials and political party representatives gave their views about the elections.

Kenya’s post election violence claimed at least 1,500 lives and more than 300,000 were uprooted in ethnic fighting following 27 December vote that opposition leader Mr Odinga accused incumbent president Kibaki of rigging.

Clashes ended with a power-sharing agreement in February in terms of which Mr Kibaki remained president and Mr Odinga was appointed prime minister.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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