THE WAR WITHIN IEBC: Tales of open hostility, backstabbing, threats and night visits

With less than 40 days left to the repeat presidential election, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) paints a picture of complete confusion and internal crisis, raising questions as to whether they are really ready to conduct elections on October 17^th 2017.

Judging by recent developments and the leaked Chebukati memo, the IEBC seems to have had people on the inside who have now pushed it to the wall.

The latest development still on Kenyans’ lips is the leaked Chebukati memo to CEO Ezra Chiloba, asking him mainly to explain why the August 8^th election never went according to plan. This seems to be just a scratch off the top as the commission looks to be crumbling due to pressure from a persistent Opposition and a forceful government.

The National Intelligence Service, because of the suspicious nature of operations in the commission, put some officials under surveillance – closely monitoring them.

This resulted in reactions from both Jubilee and NASA, with one IEBC official believed to be a NASA mole denying the claims.

It is believed that meeting was held between IEBC officials and the CEO, center of discussion being election preparedness and not internal wrangles. IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati and CEO Ezra Chiloba were all present at the meeting.

According to sources, Chebukati seemed to have swallowed up his plans of a ‘special project’ team he had tasked with conducting the repeat election.

One commissioner said at the end of the meeting, Chebukati instructed Chiloba to prepare a press statement on what they discussed since Chiloba also acts as the commission’s secretary.

In an internal memo, Chiloba also seemed to be disagreeing with the plan for a special project team, asking all county election managers to refer to the database of election officials and only engage those whose performance was pleasing.

The commission’s ICT Director James Muhati was mentioned Chebukati’s memo as the person responsible for allowing a username to be created in the chairman’s name, but these claims were strongly denied by the commission.

It is said that the leaked memo was meant to expose the cracks within IEBC.

Chebukati also issued an ultimatum to the Kenya Independent Workers Union to correct the impression they had created that the CEO had sent them.

“Confirm in writing that our client has never instructed you in relation to this matter or any other matter, immediately issue an apology to our client for the unauthorised use of his name and withdraw all references to our client in the suit,” read the issued letter.

A commissioner complained that it was liked the commission was receiving orders external people, saying that they would adopt a resolution and some officials would retract from the agreements the minute they stepped out.

Here are Uhuru Kenyatta’s and Raila Odinga’s comments on the issue, leaving a sharp divide within IEBC:

Uhuru Kenyatta: IEBC is an independent commission. You are not supposed to take instructions from me and certainly not from Raila. Prepare for the elections so that Kenyans can once again exercise their right to choose their leader.

Raila Odinga: Our team will be ready to meet with IEBC when it’s ready. I of course I will attend if the Jubilee Party candidate also attends. I am ready for any discussion since he commission is in a grave situation.

The commission’s confusion is also being fuelled by the fact that NASA is opposing the October 17^th repeat poll date while Jubilee is not comfortable with Chebukati’s ‘special project’ team.

Reports also suggest that some of the IEBC officials receive threats on their phones verbally or through texts, with confirmation from some commissioners that they were being pressured to resign and their security reduced.