Independent Elections and Boundary Commission to release March 4 Election results on Thursday

By GEOFFREY MOSOKU

KENYA: The Independent Elections and Boundary Commission (IEBC) is expected to release the final results of the 2013 General Elections on Thursday.

This is following parliament’s directive on Tuesday that the commission presents the final results to the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee Thursday morning.

The committee chaired by Samuel Chepkonga issued the directive in response to a question raised on the floor of the house last month by Kimini MP Chris Wamalwa who sought answers for the delay.

IEBC chairman Issack Hassan told the MPs that he will be ready on Thursday with the final results even s Dagorreti North MP Simba Arati alleged there was a division within the commission.

Arati claimed that some of the commissioners had refused to sign the document containing the final results, a factor that had led to the delay.

However appearing before local TV station on Tuesday night, Hassan denied any rift among the commissioners saying the nine members of the commission and the 800 staff were working harmoniously and his leadership.

There have been reports that the commission is divided deep down on releasing the results, with sources claiming that the figures cannot tally.

Another source that the commission indicated that the IEBC had delayed the results as they sent the prepared documents to the 290 constituency co-coordinators to sign and fully own the documents before the results are declared. He however said there are few discrepancies which will be explained.

“Where there are discrepancies, an explanation will be given,” the official added.

The results are crucial as they will determine how Political Parties will share the political parties’ kitty, which is a major revenue for the running of parties in the country.

Although the 2007 Act provided that 15 per cent of the fund will be shared equally to all registered parties, 5 per cent for administration (registrar’s office) and 80 per cent proportion to number of parliamentary and civic seats of the last election, the amended (2011) Act stipulates otherwise.

It states that 95 per cent of the fund will be shared in proportion to the parties that obtained at least 5 per cent of the total votes cast in the last election while 5 per cent is retained for administration.

The total national vote will be calculated using the figures obtained by each party in the six elective positions of President, Governor, Senator, MP, Women Rep and County Representatives.

However, the calculations have been delayed after IEBC failed to release the final tally thus making it hard to determine the number of parties that qualify.

The 2011 Act also sets the fund at not less than 0.03 per cent of the national revenue, which if followed will man treasury will allocate about 3 billion shillings this financial year.

On Wednesday, Wamalwa said parties were crippled due to the delay in disbursement of the funds due to the delay in releasing the computed results.

“What Hassan and his people are forgetting is that the committee of parliament is equivalent to High Court and can summon them and institute charges against them,” he said.

The Kiminini MP also said MPs can use this case as a perfect excuse to pass a vote of no confidence and have the entire commission disbanded.

“This matter of failing to release the computation of the final results has caused distress to political parties which cannot get funding,” Wamalwa, who is the opposition deputy chief whip said.

Cord leaders led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka have severally accused the commission of inept citing the delay in the declaration of final computed results as a pointer to the failures of the electoral body.

Cord believes that the results of the president and those of other elective seats do not tally, with claims that thousands of Kenyans voted for the president and failed to vote for other candidates.

However, on Thursday, Hassan may put the matter to rest when he releases the final results and tackle questions by MPs and address the public concerns.