Nairobi — International election investigators started arriving last night to start the process of probing the presidential election fiasco that plunged the country into crisis.

Retired South African Judge, Justice Johann Kriegler, who landed at JKIA at about 4.30pm, leads the team.

Chief Justice Evan Gicheru will swear in the team this morning at his chambers.

Kriegler is to be joined by international investigators, Lady Justice Imani Daudi Aboud (Tanzanian), and Mr Horacio Boneo (Argentina).

Kenyans seconded to the Independent Review Committee are Prof Marangu M'Marete, Ms Catherine Muyeka Muma, and Mr Francis Angila.

The team is expected to investigate all aspects of last year's presidential elections and make recommendations to improve the electoral process.

As the team begins work, it was not clear if the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK), now facing a confidence crisis would conduct the six by-elections.

Theyare due in Emuhaya, following Mr Kenneth Marende's election as Speaker of the National Assembly, and in Embakasi and Ainamoi whose representatives, Mugabe Were and David Too, died.

Three constituencies, Kamukunji, Kilgoris and Wajir North, had their parliamentary election results nullified due to irregularities.

The team will hold public sittings at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre and is expected to grill, among other witnesses, the ECK officials, over the December 27 presidential election.

Its findings are expected to provide groundwork for sealing loopholes in the electoral process, legislate independence of the ECK and help restore voter confidence in future elections.

The committee is mandated to analyse the constitutional and legal framework to establish the basis of conduct of the elections and to identify weaknesses and inconsistencies in legislation.

The commission's efficiency and capacity to discharge its mandate will also be assessed.

The organisational structure, composition and management of ECK to ascertain its independence will be scrutinised.

It is expected to submit its report within three and six months, which should be released 14 days after being published.

The committee is non-judicial and comprises electoral experts of good professional standing and integrity.

Kriegler brings experience from South Africa, where he served as head of Electoral Commission that mid-wifed the first democratic election that was won by now retired president, Mr Nelson Mandela.

The committee was expected to begin work on March 15 and is now running behind schedule.

The issues to be determined include inquiry into conduct of ECK and the role of observers in the poll fiasco.