The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) finds itself in familiar territory, yet again.
Last week, Protestant churches called for the disbandment of the electoral body to ensure free, fair and peaceful 2017 elections.
The National Council of Churches of Kenya said the integrity of next year’s polls requires that the body be cleared of any corruption claims.
Two weeks ago, Catholic bishops raised concerns on allegations levelled against the electoral agency. Other stakeholders including political parties have also questioned the ability of the electoral body to hold a free, fair and credible election next year.
The Centre for Multiparty Democracy and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights are bothered by the low level of confidence the public has in the institution. Most polls give the electoral body a confidence rating below 30 per cent.
The Opposition, and recently Kanu, have said that IEBC cannot be relied upon to conduct a free and fair General Election in 2017.
Some leaders affiliated to the Jubilee coalition have also expressed the same sentiments, especially after the by-elections in Kericho and Malindi.
In any contest, it is not only important that the arbiter be neutral, but more importantly they must be seen to be neutral.
Unfortunately, this is not the case with the current electoral body. It is not lost on Kenyans that IEBC still has crucial integrity, impartiality, bias and credibility questions arising from the 2013 General Election.
And with the 2017 General Election likely to be Kenya’s highest-stake competitive polls, there is reason to worry. We cannot afford to go back to the events of 2007/08 when the country almost collapsed on account of elections.
The warning by South African Judge Johann Kriegler, who chaired the Independent Review Commission that investigated the 2007 presidential election that unless our electoral system is reformed, the 2008 post-election violence might look like a picnic, still rings ominously loud.
The electoral body must convince us that it can deliver a credible election in 2017. Elections do not only test the autonomy, credibility and impartiality of the electoral management process, and commitment of incumbency to fairness, but also the resilience of the civil society to sustain free and fair elections.
Credible elections are critical to holding leaders accountable for their decisions. They also have significant implications for the quality and nature of governance and for the promotion of sustainable and equitable development.
IEBC must convince us the voters that our democratic right to vote will be protected and respected in a transparent manner as is expected in any functioning democracy.
Elections belong to the people. They are the first step in the contract that the people sign with their choice of leaders through the vote. The legitimacy of those in power, needless to say, is determined by the credibility of elections. The 2007/8 taught us that lack of credibility of elections can take us on dangerous path that we must, as a country, avoid taking.
Can IEBC promise us this in next year’s polls?
