Defuse looming conflict over IEBC role in polls
What you need to know:
- IEBC has been forced to disown a viral letter that indicates that its decision to pull out of an election preparedness forum was not endorsed by all the commissioners.
- The agency must be allowed to prepare adequately to discharge its mandate.
Just as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) appeared to settle down after the appointment of commissioners to replace those who resigned three years ago, a new round of divisions looms.
The agency has been forced to disown a viral letter that indicates that its decision to pull out of an election preparedness forum was not endorsed by all the commissioners. In a statement issued yesterday, the Wafula Chebukati-led commission dismissed as fake the letter purportedly bearing the signature of acting CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan.
This would be the first indication that the IEBC is once again getting embroiled in divisions. The letter purports to show that some of the commissioners had objected to the decision to withdraw from the Chief Justice Martha Koome-led consultative forum on election preparedness.
The National Multi-sectoral Consultative Forum on Election Preparedness (NMSCF) committee comprises all the ministries, agencies and departments responsible for the election cycle. The IEBC pulled out citing alleged unconstitutionality of the technical committee. It accused the committee of infringing on its independence and that of other institutions.
The electoral agency has every right to safeguard its independence, as appearing to let the Executive or any organisation interfere with its work could have serious consequences.
In a letter to Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho, Mr Chebukati has accused the technical committee of violating the Constitution by purporting to direct the electoral agency on how to discharge its constitutional mandate.
Even if the IEBC chief is making a reasonable point, it is a pity that the matter was allowed to degenerate to an apparent conflict that could have been avoided. The contentious issues should have been thrashed out to prevent the ugly fallout.
The IEBC will, in just under 10 months, carry out its most important task: Managing the August 2022 General Election. Anything that is likely to erode public trust in it must be avoided. Instead, its capacity to deliver free, fair and transparent elections must be enhanced through adequate support. It must be allowed to prepare adequately to discharge its mandate.
