Why all must tread carefully on IEBC

The furore over the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has heightened. The Opposition has not been at ease with the IEBC after it disputed the outcome of the 2013 General Election at the Supreme Court. And last month, the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee unanimously called for the disbandment of the IEBC. The Church and LSK have also called for the reconstitution of the electoral body.

At the heart of this agitation is the contention that IEBC fails the test of impartiality and is also mired in integrity issues. Yet calls from the Opposition to storm the IEBC offices and eject the officials only cloud the issues. The country’s leadership including the President, cannot just sit back and bid time and imagine that the IEBC storm will blow over. The wild agitation by Cord and the intransigent views advanced by some top Jubilee leaders have an ominous ring that echoes the events preceding the ill-fated 2007/08 post-election period. That should not be allowed.

Whereas CORD must find better ways that don’t involve confrontation to raise its concerns, the Executive ought to bend over backwards, appreciate and heed the reservations and misgivings of fellow stakeholders on IEBC. At all times, the Executive should avoid being seen as siding with the electoral body while the Opposition should avoid being seen as keen to stoke trouble.

At a time when another key institution- the Supreme Court- has its own credibility challenges, IEBC should get it right at the first shot.

To do that, it must engage in confidence-building initiatives with all key players. Their statement that they are ready to meet CORD leaders and listen to their grievances is a good start. It is a gesture both parties can build on for a peaceful and structured engagement that guarantees IEBC the confidence to be the referee in the 2017 contest and ensures that Cord, a key participant, is happy with the outcome, whichever way it goes.