Opinion: Do you think IEBC is ready for October 26?

From left: IEBC Vice Chairperson Consolata Maina, Chairman Wafula Chebukati and Commissioner Roselyn Akombe Photo:Courtesy

Looking at the substantive issues raised at the Supreme Court by the petitioner, which the majority of the bench agreed with, the IEBC needs more time for an internal audit to ensure irregularities and illegalities similar to those committed on August 8 do not recur.

It is evident, through the revision of the election date to October 26 after the detailed judgment and leaked memos, that the commission is cognisant that certain issues need to be addressed.

However, postponing the election by nine days is not enough.

There needs to be a proper audit of the IT systems. Personnel changes are also required. The judges found two irregularities in declaration of the final results which IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati overlooked.

The first was that he declared Uhuru Kenyatta the winner before receiving and verifying all forms 34A and without allowing all agents accessed forms 34A and 34B.

Billions of shillings were spent to run the last election therefore Kenyans need a better managed poll this time.

We must get to the bottom of what really went wrong before we conduct another presidential poll. Someone needs to take responsibility.

Democracy is costly and it’s a price we must be ready to pay if we are serious about having proper elections in future. Otherwise we will rush to another election whose result will be disputed again.