Hiring new IEBC bosses might not be the answer

Kenyan dailies have in the past few days highlighted the ongoing row revolving around electoral reforms.

The discussion has been whether it's a wise move to pay off electoral commissioners. This will cost taxpayers about Sh200 million. This push to get them out of office is political, not issue-based.

During an appearance before the Parliament select committee on electoral reforms, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich was quoted as saying that there are contingency funds for that kind of unforeseen expenditure.

According to the CS, Contingency Fund - money set aside by the Government to cater for any unforeseen expenses - is usually Sh5 billion and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) issue was unforeseen.

Since the 2013 General Election, how come we have suddenly realised that the current IEBC bosses are unfit especially when we are just a few months to the next general election? Some people waited until the last minute so that what does not suit them can be amended.

We need to stop this selfishness. For how long will national decision-making processes be based on our interests and not those of the populace? Is IEBC really the problem or is it that our leaders during elections period are uncertain of the outcome and all they care about is manipulating elections results? Why have legislators from all parties waited for three years to push for electoral reforms? Maybe the real problem is the fear of failure. Most of us have so much fear over the uncertain because of poor planning.

What we should be asking ourselves is, what next after these commissioners leave? Maybe MPs waited for the last minute so that electoral reforms can trigger a change in the election date considering that when the new commissioners take office, they will need time to learn electoral processes.

We should retain the current officials given that they have spearheaded plans and appropriate preparations for the 2017 General Election. What our leaders should do is ensure there are strict rules and regulations on how to conduct elections. It's always much easier to enhance already existing knowledge than to train afresh. The best time to send the current IEBC commissioners home is after the 2017 polls. This would ensure those who take over have enough time to prepare for the next elections.

Leaders who strongly want IEBC bosses out should come up and give concrete reasons on why they should be sent packing.

Earlier in the year the European Union Delegation to Kenya gave the IEBC Sh560 million to support Kenya's preparations to a transparent, credible and peaceful elections in 2017.This is more than double the funding provided by the EU in 2013.

The contribution will benefit the UNDP basket fund established to support Kenyan institutions in their efforts to make sure that the vote of every Kenyan will be respected and will make a difference in 2017. This strengthens Kenya's young and vibrant democracy.

I am terrified because I don't know what lies ahead once Issack Hassan and his team, who have remained stiff and firm as Government officials who are not moved or swayed by political agendas by a small slot, are sent packing. I wonder if the next chairperson can live up to expectations or after the 2017 polls we will be back where we are right now.

Our MPs are not known to put the interests of the electorate first so these much-hyped reforms are being supported by MPs because they serve their interests. When a law that seeks to restore sanity in electoral processes is tabled, they gang up against it, a case in point being the clause on party-hopping.