Delay in IEBC formation could affect elections

Business

By Athman Amran

Chairman of the former Independent Review Commission Johann Kriegler has cautioned that delay in making the Interim Electoral and Boundaries commission (IEBC) fully functional could affect the success of next year's general elections.

Chairman of the former Independent Review Commission Johann Kriegler. He has warned that Kenya will be in serious trouble if next year's General Election fails [Photo:Moses Omusula/Standard]

Kriegler warned that if next year's General Election fails Kenya will be in serious trouble.

He said it was unfortunate that the IEBC became functional only three weeks ago.


"This means that it has eight months to get going and it will have to run very complex elections," Kriegler said while giving a keynote address during a two-day international conference to review Kenya's progress since the promulgation of the new constitution in 2008 and the way forward.


"Those elections dare not fail. You have been given a second chance and it has got to work this time," he said.

He pointed out that, of the nine commissioners only two have experience in the electoral process having been in the disbanded Interim Independent Electoral Commission, which was headed by the current IEBC chairman Isaack Ahmed Hassan.
He said there were also many posts, which were yet to be advertised to make it a complete national outfit ready to conduct an election with the magnitude of next year's General Election.


Kriegler said the IEBC is faced with two major challenges, the drawing up of the electoral boundaries and voter registration, which it has to accomplish within a limited time frame arguing that these can be crucial to the outcome of next year's elections.


"The time limitation is one of the most troublesome," Kriegler said pointing out that the drawing up of electoral boundaries could be manipulated to fit the liking of some political players.


"The drawing of 290 electoral boundaries is a complex and extremely difficult exercise. It will cause agony in the IEBC," Kriegler said.


Kriegler pointed out that the IEBC was facing a "very high mountain" which would need an inspired political leadership and national support.


Another major obstacle is voter registration, Kriegler pointed out adding that this issue was still on the drawing board yet the voter registration has to be carried out within the next eight months.


He pointed out that there are still seven million Kenyans without proof of citizenship arguing that the government should give these the requisite proof of citizenship otherwise the elections will begin with a handicap.


"You cannot have fair elections when you exclude seven million people," Kriegler said.


He argued that this would exclude more women, youths and members from the minority groups, which would render the voter register skewed.


Kriegler also pointed out that three years since the promulgation of the constitution, things were still at an embryonic stage, which he argued were grounds of concern.


He said the constitution's first huddle will be next year's General Election.


"The constitution has to be made to work. It first major test will be the next elections," he said.


Kriegler said his message to Kenya is that old style ethnicity and ethnicised political parties has passed adding that it would be a folly not to take steps to minimise effects of political violence.


He called on peace communities, faith-based organisations and the civil society to be active and provide the network for civic education to minimise the effects of political violence.


"If the IEBC is given such support, it will be ready to handle the elections," Kriegler said.

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