IEBC must address fears of rigging in poll

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) finds itself in familiar territory, yet again. Kanu, the former ruling party, is accusing it of sleeping on the job in the hotly contested March 7 Kericho senatorial by-election. Consequently, Kanu has challenged the results announced by IEBC giving victory to the Jubilee Alliance Party's Aaron Cheruiyot against Kanu's Paul Sang.

By raising questions about the outcome of the poll, Kanu has raised fundamental issues that must be addressed ahead of the August 2017, General Election. Is the IEBC ready enough to handle next year's elections? The Opposition has consistently expressed fears that IEBC cannot be relied upon to conduct free and fair elections in 2017. Kericho offered IEBC a chance to prove them wrong. This fear arises from events surrounding the 2013 General Election, which were contested by the Opposition, but upheld by the Supreme Court.