With IEBC in place, hard part begins

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is finally in place after years of careful planning, tug-of-wars and skepticism.

President Kibaki has appointed the nine-member team, which is now charged with preparing for and conducting next General Election.

The selection was the most consultative Kenya has ever witnessed since Independence. It was fierce and characterised by public debate, objections, and all manner of accusations and counter-accusations. This is partly what democracy is all about.

We congratulate the new team chaired by lawyer Ahmed Isaack Hassan. Kenyans have a lot of faith in them, and expect the commission to guide the country through a flawless election.

The commission has overcome many hurdles. But the dangers ahead are even more daunting.

The installation of the team is quite symbolic for Kenya, which came out of a chaotic election marked with deaths and bruises just four years ago.

First, the nation must remember why we have this new team. It is replacing the defunct Electoral Commission of Kenya, which put itself to shame by presiding over one of the most shambolic polls the country has ever witnessed.

As a result, Kenya almost crumbled under civil strife as supporters of the two main presidential candidates, President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, turned against each other.

About 1,200 people were killed and the economy nearly collapsed.

　

Laughing Stock

Today, Kenya has become the laughing stock of the world as senior public figures fend off accusations at the International Criminal Court in The Hague that they helped plan the mayhem

The new commission, therefore, serves as a reminder of where we are coming from. Its predecessor was a team of commissioners selected without any political consultation, leading to a widespread belief they were acting at the whims of one side of the political divide. It is gladdening to see that this time, the names were approved after consultations between President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

But it is also a reminder of where we want to go. The task ahead is a political one, and requires good balancing between the desires and demands of the various sides.

But the Constitution, democracy, and the good of the country must guide the commissioners all the time, in whatever they do.

The commission is charged with spearheading the registration of voters, as well as the inspection of the voters’ roll. There is also the hot issue of the creation of 80 new constituencies.

As witnessed during various debates on the matter, these are explosive issues, which require the wisdom of Solomon to navigate through.

All this will culminate in the General Election, which is unlike anything Kenyans have experienced since Independence.

Apart from choosing a president, Kenyans will be picking senators, governors, MPs and county assembly representatives, all on the same day.

Even in the past, where only president, MPs and councillors were being picked, elections were a massive event requiring huge resources and good planning.

Given this scenario, the task ahead is indeed massive. The team has no tested local template to learn from.

All said, Kenyans trust in the capabilities of the new team. Given the passions that elections excite, it will be a huge test for the team to meander through the demands of conflicting interests.

Political Loss

What is most important is that no Kenyan would want to see a repeat of the madness experience after the 2007 General Election.

It is upon this team to see that the feeling of political loss experienced then is healed.

As a beacon of democracy in the region, this is a chance for Kenya to show the world that we are not the machette-wielding, quarrelsome people we were portrayed as, in those dark weeks of 2008.

It is time to put Kenya back in the roll of countries that respect the choice of the people by conducting fair and transparent elections.

We are sure the nine members have the best for the country in their hearts. Do not let Kenyans down.