Kenya parliament disbands poll commission

Nairobi (BBC) – Kenya’s electoral commission has been dissolved by the parliament – a key recommendation of an inquiry into poll fraud that led to deadly protests nearly a year ago.

Last week, some 600 electoral staff went on hunger strike, angered at the possible axing of their jobs.

Amendments were then made to the bill to ensure that some staff would be redeployed to the public service.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s leaders have until the end of Wednesday to sign a deal to form a poll-violence tribunal.

The court would try individuals suspected of being behind the violence in which more than 1,500 people died.

Once President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga sign the deal, parliament has 45 days to set up the tribunal.

If it fails to do so, a sealed list of the suspects – some thought to be prominent politicians – could be forwarded to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

President Kibaki and Mr Odinga signed a power-sharing deal in February to bring an end to the post-election violence and formed a coalition government.