Credibility and Prudence is key for IEBC to meet its target

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) appears to have quite a lot on its in-tray about 9 months to the polls. This week the electoral commission announced they will be revising their timelines with regard to phase two of the Mass Voter Registration (MVR). The MVR will therefore be carried out in February 2017 and not December this year as earlier anticipated. However, to navigate the prevailing challenges; credibility and efficiency will be IEBC’s best asset.

The idea being pushed that the new electoral laws were created without proper understanding of the election cycle, and are therefore an impediment to the electoral commission is unwarranted. The only impediment to the electoral body are the skeletons in the closet and the seemingly disorganization, as exemplified by their reactionary measures towards the challenges that continue to bedevil them. This blog has pointed out, rightly on several occasions that the challenges of the 2013 general elections were enough to make 2017 as flawless as possible.

To begin with there could be a million reasons why the first phase of MVR failed. Whether lack of enough finances as explained by IEBC was the cause or voter apathy as claimed by politicians, and civil rights groups - is not really the concern right now. All these reasons and possibly many others boil down to credibility and efficiency. How do Kenyans perceive IEBC? Kenyans attitude cannot change unless the system is proved credible and efficient.

If the Afro-barometer report is any indication, most Africans have little trust in their electoral bodies. One of the main reasons cited is that election flaws are rarely fixed. This is why IEBC must maximize on every opportunity to show they’re a credible institution.

Most of the challenges IEBC faces can be solved by offering proper leadership and direction and showing independence from either government or opposition. Take for example the issue with the timeline over hiring a reputable firm to conduct audit of the voter register.  Also, consider opposition party ODM’s claim that the outgoing team is allegedly being used to help rig the upcoming elections and have thus demanded a stop of the auditing of the voter register. These are both weighty issues that can easily affect the next phase of MVR.

Instead of blaming the timelines on the election laws, IEBC should firstly do everything in their power to show neutrality by ensuring the Isaac Hassan team is not involved in the process. The team is a baggage. Consequently, IEBC can go ahead and identify the independent audit firms through the secretariat. Then have the profiles of the identified institutions sent to parliament for vetting, even as they await the appointment of the new team that will oversee the actual auditing itself. This will leverage on both time and inspire trust.

Other areas IEBC could begin working on to ensure efficiency is the procurement process. IEBC should demonstrate that the equipment they are about to procure works. And it is possible to know this before you get the equipment. Nobody buys faulty things to go try their effectiveness. Competence demands you only buy what works. IEBC should further ensure that the staff on the ground that will be operating the equipment are well versed with them and can competently handle the equipment, possibly even trouble shoot where there is a normal technical challenge.

Additionally, the captured data should by all means remain accurate. There should be no reason why a person who gave his details should later find that some of the details or all of them are missing. This will be nothing short of incompetence and convincing such a person re-submit his details without any assurance they can disappear again will be a tall order. The final register should be perfect.

Furthermore give clear guidelines on polling stations. Will it be over 30,000 as proposed or not? Clarity ensures efficiency because you have clear targets and this kills any possibilities of someone later crying foul. Once these key areas have become a priority for IEBC then the electorate’s perceived Apathy or ignorance and whatever else can be easily challenged through Voter Education.

Posted by Mzalendo Editor on Oct. 14, 2016

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