IEBC warns politicians linked to militias will be locked out of polls

By Tobias Chanji

The Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) chairman Issack Hassan has warned that politicians with links to militias or accused of violence will not be on the ballot.

He said some politicians have threatened elections officials and warned IEBC has adequate law to stop such aspirants.

“One coordinator wrote to me to say he was threatened by a politician, but I want to advise you coordinators that you have to use your powers to stop this,” he said.

Hassan warned politicians who have been engaged in ethnic cleansing in parts of Coast and North Eastern region that the commission will not allow them to participate in the General Election.

“The news we are getting from Tana River and other parts is shocking but those responsible are forewarned that we will shall lock them out of the polls,” he said.

Reshuffled officials

Meanwhile, IEBC has reshuffled 210 constituency election coordinators in a move aimed at bolstering public confidence in the General Election.

Announcing the reshuffle in Diani, Kwale County yesterday, Hassan said IEBC had been in the news for negative reasons in the last few months concerning the biometric voter registration saga that reduced the public confidence.

“We conducted the referendum well and won the confidence of everyone, in fact we were the second after the media, but when the BVR hit us the confidence went down to 53 per cent,” he said.

Hassan told the coordinators attending a conference at the coastal resort that transferring them across the country should impart a national and objective outlook in them beyond narrow sectarian interests.

“The reshuffle is good for you and the country to have your confidence that you can work anywhere in the country as civil servant. You are not a coordinator of your clan but your nation. If you mess up elections the law will catch up with you and you will be criminally liable as you go to jail for three years,” he said..

Hassan made the remarks while addressing election commissioners, regional coordinators and  constituency co-coordinators at a validation workshop on the General Election themed The road Map to a successful 2013 General Election.

He said the conference would be included on its calendar of events  to be held annually and commended the coordinators who managed the recent by elections.

“Good work was done in these past by-elections as we did not receive anybody challenging the results. Failure is not our option, we have to work hard. I know the 80 that we have employed are the best and bright and are up to the task to conduct elections freely,  fairly, transparently and professionally. Its you who can make or break elections. Luckily, we have made reforms in the electoral process,” he declared.

He said that the coordinators are now empowered to act independently and not to sing to the whims of politicians and have a repeat of the 2007 bungled elections.

“History repeats itself because we forget the first time, if 2007 the year that we lost 1,300 people comes back again it will have a more terrible price compared to the last one. The entire population of  40 million people are looking upon all of us,” he added.

Hassan further went on to state: “I want you when you go back to your new stations to know that you have taken a solemn oath. Lets commit ourselves as Kenyans first then coordinators second and hold credible elections.”

The workshop, that is to be closed by the Minister for Justice National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs Eugene Wamalwa on Sunday, touched on many issues including voter registration, legal framework, security and accountability of electoral material.