We shouldn’t politicise hiring of IEBC chiefs

Though its three months behind schedule, the reconstitution of IEBC, which goes into high gear next week with the interviews for Chair of the Commission, is welcome news. I am pleased to note that of the five shortlisted candidates, one was my first boss, two were my classmates in law school, one was my colleague in the LSK Council and one was my client for many years! I therefore wish them equally well; to be Chair of IEBC in these tumultuous times is a heavy responsibility.

Unfortunately for them the rhetoric that may poison their appointment has already commenced with CORD’s first shot last week that the selection process was being rigged. While one may be quick to dismiss such talk as the usual political posturing popular with Kenyan politicians, it should cause concern if it paints the eventual appointee as a lackey of any of the political players. It is therefore absolutely important that the appointment process be seen to be absolutely fair and transparent and that the eventual appointee exhibits the qualities that the Chair of an electoral management body must exhibit, competence, unquestionable integrity, non-partisanship and level headedness.