Poll: 72pc of Kenyans want IEBC bosses replaced

A new poll shows seven out of 10 Kenyans believe replacing top bosses would increase confidence in the electoral agency.

However, Central and Rift Valley regions seem to have faith in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) at 58 and 56 per cent respectively.

The other six regions have less than 40 per cent confidence that IEBC can competently manage the next General Election.

The poll by Ipsos Kenya said at least one out of every 10 respondents believed the commissioners involved in the Chickengate scandal “should be prosecuted”.

Scandal under probe

The ‘chickengate’ scandal – where some commissioners of the now defunct interim Independent Electoral Commission received bribes from Smith and Ouzman in exchange for a multi-million contract to print ballot papers — has been under investigation for the last two years.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has until June 20 to release the report that will have an impact on the destiny of the current commissioners of the IEBC.

As the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee works on a formula to pick successors, the Ipsos poll revealed that very few of those polled want politicians involved in picking successors of the current commissioners.

Nominate members

“... a minority (5 per cent) suggest that the composition of the IEBC commissioners ought to include a representative from the main political parties,” said Hilda Kiritu, Director of Public Affairs at Ipsos.

Majority Leader Aden Duale has opposed proposals to have the Opposition and Jubilee coalition nominate two members each to sit in the selection panel for IEBC to be done away with. Duale argued that allowing political parties to participate in picking commissioners would deny the agency independence to discharge its mandate.

“The interviewing panel will have influence on who will become IEBC commissioners. The IEBC should be insulated from the political class. The commission should be independent,” he said.

Ipsos also said 72 per cent of respondents are aware of the protests but only 30 per cent of those who are aware of the demos support them. “Jubilee stronghold regions comparably have the lowest levels of support for the demonstrations, while the perceived business losses reported in Nairobi would explain the low levels of support for the demonstrations in the city,” said Ipsos.