Major setback as IIEC threatens to pull out of football elections

By James Waindi

Uncertainty has once again hit the much awaited national football elections after the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) threatened to pull out of the exercise if their conditions are not met by Tuesday.

The exercise was at first expected to be held in April, but has been shelved a number of times, at one time even overruling the ministerial deadline of September 10.

According to a statement posted by the Commission’s Chief Executive Officer James Oswago on the IIEC website on Sunday, the Commissions’ demands should be met before Tuesday lest they withdraw from the exercise.

The Commission is demanding a credible voter’s register from the Independent Electoral Board (IEB), a list of voting stations from the sub branches, branches to the national tallying centre and that IEB vet and present only candidates who meet certain criteria.

“The integrity and leadership requirements in the current constitution had to be met. It would be inconceivable for the commission to preside over an election in which one of the parties has, for example, an un-discharged corruption related case,” said Oswago.

Strict timelines

“Any election must be planned and executed on strict timelines. The commission’s technical team, the best in this business, has set several time lines, all of which have been breached by nonconformity by the other parties concerned. This cannot continue ad infinitum,” he observed.

He added: “The minimal conditions we are setting remain basic for a credible process. We wish therefore to say in public what we have said in private: unless the above conditions are met by October 4, 2011, this commission shall immediately withdraw the offer or commitment to conduct the elections.”

Right parties

When reached for comment, the Chief Executive Officer of the Fifa appointed Independent Electoral Board (IEB) Peter Ogonji said IIEC demands did not lie in their mandate and said the Government and Fifa were the right parties to respond to the Commission’s deadline.

“I would not want to comment on the Commission’s deadline because issues of finances and time frame are not in our mandate. The Government and Fifa are best placed to respond to that,” said Ogonji.

IIEC demands a down payment of Sh20,799,400 for exercise and yet IEB has only managed to raise Sh16,710, 000.

“To date, Sh16,710,000 has been secured for a severely constrained budget of Sh20,799,400. IEB has had all sorts of spokespersons; and they are not the most coherent or consistent on any given issue.

The Commission is now concerned that it risks suffering disrepute and loss of public confidence were it to continue engaging in this process,” Oswago said.

He added: “We recognise the tremendous goodwill on the part of all players, particularly Fifa, to have the process concluded in the most credible manner. We acknowledge that the ministry concerned has looked for and secured some funding from both public and private sources. And we are greatly honoured by those football loving Kenyans who have confidence in our capability to discharge this assignment with great distinction.”