Opinion: Is IEBC ready for October 26?

The road to the repeat presidential election is paved with monumental political minefields that pose myriad challenges, even for the most efficient and credible of electoral bodies.

The challenges and risks that lie ahead for the IEBC, its commissioners and staff are not insurmountable, though if not adequately mitigated can lead to another bungled exercise.

However, there is no doubt that holding the election on October 26 is achievable but daunting. Contrary to popular belief, the IEBC’s biggest challenge is political rather than administrative, which involves sourcing and contracting for an upgrade of the elections management system, and procuring printing of presidential ballot papers.

IEBC’s biggest battle is winning the hearts and minds of a significant portion of the electorate. It is a struggle to obtain goodwill, leverage and nonpartisan support from both sides of the political divide.

 The electoral commission’s credibility was hammered after the annulment of the August 8 elections by the Supreme Court.

To recover the political goodwill, the IEBC needs to assiduously implement the Supreme Court’s findings as it prepares for the poll.

 This will restore trust and confidence in the institution and lead to compliance with the law in the entire electoral process from procurement of ballot papers to transmission of results.