Hardening positions over IEBC not good

NAIROBI: Today marks the fourth consecutive Monday the Opposition CORD coalition will stage protests against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). The concern is that IEBC, as currently constituted, cannot be trusted to arbitrate fairly in the August 2017 General Election. This fear revolves around the contested 2013 presidential election results and claims that some of the commissioners received kickbacks from a UK company to secure a printing tender in 2013. Two of the givers of the bribe are serving time in a British jail. No one has been prosecuted in Kenya.

Yet despite that, there are greater concerns that judging from last week's demonstration that turned ugly after police violently dispersed the demonstrators, things are likely to get ugly today. Already, business leaders have warned that continued protests will hurt business and ultimately, the economy. Demonstrations are provided for in law, but only if they remain peaceful. That is highly unlikely.