Select committee has its work cut out

Parliament has finally approved a list of the 14 legislators, seven each from the Opposition and Government, who will oversee electoral reforms. This comes after heightened acrimony between the two sides over the composition of the team and, more importantly, the agenda and mandate of the team.

While the ruling Jubilee coalition had expressed reservations about CORD’s explicit demands to disband the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) by arguing that constitutional stipulations must be adhered to, the convergence of interests; a peaceful, united country and clean elections, ultimately forced the two protagonists to the negotiating table. Finally, there is goodwill.

But time is of essence. The 14-member select committee must act with speed and ensure their findings after 30 days, are representative of all the voices.

At all times, the talks should not be guided by political expediency or political grandstanding.

The MPs owe it to the country that the talks don’t deviate from their mutually desired goal of reforming the IEBC. The IEBC is among the reasons given for Kenya’s imperfect democracy. There is a general consensus that as constituted, the commission cannot be trusted to conduct credible elections in 2017. These doubts stem from the shambolic handling of the 2013 elections and most recently, the Kericho Senate by-election.

It doesn’t help, either, that the integrity of some commissioners raises questions following their perceived role in the Chickengate scandal involving British firm Smith and Ouzman to print electoral material between 2008 and 2010 for the consideration of Sh50 million bribe to Kenyan officials. Two directors of the firm were found guilty and are serving a two-year jail term in Britain.

The parliamentary select committee must not just recommend cosmetic changes. It must go beyond that and give Kenyans reason to believe in democracy where the majority have their way and the minority have their say.