IEBC must act wisely to save face
That Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman Issack Hassan and CEO James Oswago have differed over Biometric Voter Registration kit tender should worry the electorate.
It’s really unfortunate this had to happen at a time preparation for General Election are moving into high gear.
After working so hard to regain Kenyans’ confidence, following erosion of the same by the defunct ECK, it is sad IEBC is throwing in the towel.
Following the aftermath of the disputed 2007 elections, there was need for a credible polls body that would take the country away from the miasma of ethnic hatred and violence.
When ECK was wound up, as part of the peace agreement of 2008, Interim Independent Electoral Commission was created and mandated to oversee electoral matters until last year when IEBC replaced it.
Through its grueling efforts, IEBC, though gradually, started to gain credence with Kenyans. Many thought the ignominy suffered by ECK and the bloodshed our country plunged into had been consigned to oblivion.
Lately, however, IEBC has been involved in issues that could undermine its hard-earned credibility. For instance, its request for more than Sh40 billion to conduct elections appalled many.
Though the need to hold free, fair and transparent elections could not be downplayed, it was mind-boggling where such an amount would come from. Of course the Treasury could not avail it and the poll body had no choice but to slash its budget.
Credit factor
IEBC is embroiled in a BVR tendering row, which threatens to undo the gains so far. It is suspicious how the tender was first awarded to an Indian company with dubious credibility only for it to be cancelled and given to Symphony, a company with equally dented credentials.
Despite Symphony admitting its incapacity to supply BVR kit without depending on its German partner, and even after claims it had been blacklisted in 1994 for shoddy performance, IEBC overlooked all this and awarded the tender. Anyone can smell a rat.
IEBC has three options if it cares about retaining public trust: The first is to start the tendering process afresh, something that would, definitely, consume much time and resources.
Secondly, it can borrow the BVR kit from friendly countries such as Ghana or Nigeria, which would still be an expensive venture.
Last but not least, it can resort to manual registration, a process that largely contributed to post-poll chaos since it was open to abuse.
Bearing this in mind and with the election date hanging in the balance, Hassan and the CEO must subjugate their differences to the needs of Kenyans.
{Dennis Mbae, Nairobi}
Over the past weeks, IEBC has been on spot over the award of a lucrative Sh3.9 billion BVR tender. Initially, IEBC suspended the award after questions were raised over the correct name of the company that had won the tender and announced that the company would undergo a due diligence scrutiny.
While IEBC referred to the company as Africa Symphony, the company’s managing director has since sought to clarify the error. He said the company is registered as Systems Integrations Ltd.
This raised a couple of questions: Which criteria the IEBC used to identify the company? Did they follow the procurement procedure? It is not lost that the bidding involves a number of steps. The key among them is verification of details.
Notably, IEBC enjoys enormous power accorded to it by the Constitution. It will conduct the first poll under the new laws, the poll rated as one of the most competitive and expensive in the world.
For now, the IEBC must reassure Kenyans of their commitment to uphold and live by the oath of office. If the BVR deal was not done over the board, they must own up and apologise to Kenyans.
We expect nothing but a free, fair and peaceful election from IEBC.
{Joseph Mutua, Nairobi}
Survey guides voters on who to choose
Recent survey by Infotrack Harris has shown that most Kenyans worry about the state of the economy above everything else.
According to the research, 52 per cent of respondents are so much concerned about various aspects of the economy that affect their earnings and expenditure. The poll further shows 16 per cent worry about inflation and unemployment, 14 per cent infrastructure, eight per cent poverty, while five per cent worry about food security.
These revelations should send a strong message to leaders that Kenya could be on brink of economic crisis. Inflation, unemployment, poverty, and food insecurity are among key factors of a country’s economy that these leaders should include in their manifestoes.
State of Desperation
Those issues have troubled Kenyans since independence. We must appreciate achievements in infrastructure development and other areas, but this is not enough. As much as we boast of great roads and modern buildings, it is sad Kenyans still continue languishing in poverty and unemployment. Despite our being an agriculture-fed country, food security remains a challenge.
The gap between the poor and the rich seems to be widening, while survival for the fittest is the order of day for millions of Kenyans.
All these can be attributed to poor leadership, but these continue living large while the poor languishin poverty.
We, the voters, should be on the look out. Let’s evaluate what these politicians stand for. Are they the change the country wants? Will they get the country out of its woes?
The fact that some have been holding this or that political office for years should not be an automatic qualifier to get elected to higher office.
Let’s look at what individual candidates have done for the nation and its citizens, starting with their constituents. Links to corruption scandals or any other criminal acts should form basis for our choices.
As a third world country, our growth totally depends on our leadership. No country can grow if its leaders only think of selfish ambitions. Let’s not allow ourselves to be manipulated by empty promises.
{Nixon Kanali, Nairobi}
Kenya marketers doing good job at London Olympics
Often organisations charged with marketing Kenya as preferred tourist and investment destination have come under criticism for missing out on golden opportunities to showcase Kenya to the world.
However, their efforts this time round cannot go unnoticed. A delegation from Kenya, featuring President Kibaki, has pitched camp in the heart of London and seeks to sell Kenya during the ongoing Olympics.
Sports have always been our forte and promoting sport tourism is a brilliant idea. The Kenya House UK, organised by Brand Kenya, has seen massive support from stakeholders in the tourism, trade and investment industries among others. The team should be lauded for a job well done.
{Patricia Rima, Via Email}
President Kibaki couldn’t get it more right to attend the London Olympics. His presence automatically boosts Team Kenya’s morale. It will also raise the country’s profile as one of the world’s leading athletics’ nation. This time round, Kenya has put its money where her mouth is.
The Government’s idea to come up with Kenya House UK was a masterpiece. It will give the Government an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, that is, haul as many gold medals as possible and market Kenya as Africa’s preferred investment destination.
As the Kenyan delegation cashes in on Kenya’s sporting prowess to inject economic impetus, more pressure is added on the athletes to perform. Already, the morale in the camp is high as they can evidently see that the entire Government is behind them.
We wish them all the best.
{Dennis Mbae, Nairobi}
Changes in TSC Bill silent on quality
The proposal contained in the amendment to TSC Bill 2012 that requires school principals to train afresh in managerial skills and consequently become managers adds little or no value to the attainment of quality education.
The best the amendment has done is change the designation of principals to school managers, but it is not at all clear whether such a move has a positive bearing on education standards.
And what is the highest goal if not to improve education standards? We do not oppose that the ‘managers’ will have to be responsible for financial, administrative, educational policy and other professinal duties. But the question is whether this is a new idea as the current principals are doing the same thing.
This was waste public resources.
{Omusolo Moses, Kisumu}
