Leaders pile pressure on IEBC to address polls challenges

IEBC CEO Hussein Marjan Husein inspects the first batch of ballot papers at the JKIA. [Denish Ochieng' Standard]

It was a long day for the electoral agency with commissioners heavily engaged in receiving ballot papers and fighting off allegations of a plot to rig elections. 

All this was in the hope of assuring Kenyans that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will conduct a free and fair General Election.

There has been mounting pressure and displeasure by some players over opaqueness of the electoral process. 

And the man on the cross hairs, Wafula Chebukati, hopped from one board meeting to another and during an interlude sped to the airport to receive the first batch of ballot papers, even as he fought 2017 ghosts.

And just like the last elections when the Supreme Court nullified the presidential results because they were “neither transparent nor verifiable”, concerns are rife that the country could be on a similar path ahead of the August 9 polls.

There are a string of demands voiced by Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga, who caused the nullification of results in 2017. This time he is demanding that IEBC provides a manual register in all polling stations, besides the electronic identification. He is not the only making demands; a number of candidates are raising questions and seeking guarantees to ensure the process is free and fair. A section of politicians wants IEBC to install cameras in all polling stations.

With several controversies hitting the electoral body as it struggles to put everything in place to ensure no rigging, a number of politicians believe the body has already failed the first test in preparations.

From questions over transmission of results, provision of a manual back up as well as claims of collusion with some candidates over the printing of ballot papers, it seems all is not well.

There are also allegations of skewed recruitment of returning and presiding officers by IEBC, with Azimio-One Kenya Alliance claiming the majority were drawn from one region sympathetic to Kenya Kwanza. 

The silence over the fate of IEBC staff who reportedly transferred thousands of voters has placed additional question marks over the dedication of the electoral body to ensure the election results are credible.

Candidates and experts believe more petitions could be brought to courts questioning IEBC preparedness. This could set potential grounds to challenge the results in court. They insist possibility of the presidential results suffering a similar fate like in 2017.

Major stakeholders including the candidates, insist the commission has ignored them in the preparations thus far.

Among the new demands the Azimio alliance wants the electoral body to consider include installation of cameras in all polling stations to improve credibility as well as ironing the controversies over agents of presidential candidates.

Interviews with a number of Raila’s lieutenants established that their confidence with the electoral body is waning and insist teething problems have not been addressed.

IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati. [File, Standard]

Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina said IEBC should urgently address all issues raised to raise the confidence of candidates.

“IEBC should be extremely transparent in the entire process and must provide a manual back up of the voter register,” he said.

Ledama claimed the commission should consider installing CCTV cameras in all polling stations and tallying centres to monitor all activities.

“Cameras are not that expensive and IEBC should install them in all polling stations. The cameras should have the capacity to be zoomed to capture events and be shared for everyone to see,” he said.

The legislator said although some of the problems that led to nullification of presidential results in 2017 have been addressed, IEBC still has a lot to do.

ODM Chairman John Mbadi, the secretary in charge of political affairs Opiyo Wandayi and a number of MPs told The Standard several issues lie unsolved and the failure by IEBC to engage the presidential candidates frequently, was a cause for concern.

Mbadi said they were confident that IEBC would conduct a credible poll until last year when the electoral body started behaving in a way he claimed has raised eyebrows.

“We are getting a bit disappointed by the lack of transparent communication. IEBC is failing us in several aspects. They have not embraced transparency,” said Mbadi.

Mbadi claimed the issue of a manual backup is a must and should be embraced by the electoral body.

“They must listen to the complaints being raised. They must also come out and clear doubts over the controversies surrounding the printing of ballot papers,” said Mbadi, adding that Greece is not one of the countries highly competitive in printing.

Lawyer and political pundit Joshua Nyamori said the country is bound to see more petitions filed against IEBC which may also have an impact on the process.

“IEBC needs to follow the law lest it finds itself in a similar scenario as 2017. Candidates have already identified a number of loopholes which they may use to challenge the presidential results after the elections,” said Nyamori.

Wandayi, who exuded confidence that their coalition will register a round one victory, claimed the problems bedeviling free and fair poll must be addressed by the IEBC as soon as possible.

Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi. [Isaiah Gwengi, Standard] 

“The latest controversies are a cause for worry to all those who want stability. It has no option but to engage with and address concerns of all stakeholders, principally the competing political parties,” he said.

Other leaders also waded into the matter claiming the electoral body should tread carefully and lawfully. Homa Bay governor candidate Evans Kidero said introduction of a manual backup will help reduce chances of some voters being locked out.

“If the electronic register develops hitches, the manual one will be used as an alternative. This will prevent voters from being locked out, hence transparency. Giving everybody equal opportunity to vote will prevent court cases,” said Kidero.

In Migori, John Pesa who is vying for governor, said for IEBC to ensure no repeat of 2017 election results nullification, it should be open and transparent.

And as the commission grapples with the issues raised, the recent rigging claims by a number of politicians in both Raila’s camp and Deputy President William Ruto’s camp has put a damper on the process.

On the one hand, Raila’s camp, strongly believe some DP’s henchmen have met IEBC commissioners with an aim of rigging the polls, and have a hand in the printing of ballot papers.

On the other, Ruto’s allies believe Raila’s coalition is trying to use what they describe as “State Capture” to compel IEBC officials and administrators to influence the elections in Raila’s favour.

Yesterday, a senior politician leading UDA campaigns in Western, claimed Raila’s camp has sensed defeat and that is the reason they are flouting “baseless rigging claims”.

“We do not have any plans to rig the elections. They are the ones enjoying State machinery as we enjoy the support of ordinary Kenyans. We believe IEBC will conduct a credible poll,” said the official.

- Additional reporting by Anne Atieno, James Omoro and Eric Abuga