Kenya’s electoral body in turmoil months after controversial poll

BY FAUXILE KIBET

A few months after Kenya’s controversial presidential elections, the country’s electoral body, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), is at the brink of breaking apart.

Last week, three commissioners previously serving at the electoral body resigned, accusing the commissions’ chairman Wafula Chebukati of poor leadership.

“The Commission Chairperson has failed to be the steady and stable hand that steers the ship in difficult times and give direction when needed,” Commissioner Margaret Mwachanya said.

“Under his leadership, the Commission boardroom has become a venue for peddling misinformation, grounds for brewing mistrust, and a space for scrambling for and chasing for individual glory and credit,” she added.

The three, Connie Maina, Paul Kurgat and Margaret Mwachanya exited leaving a gap at the commission which makes it unable to conduct its electoral affairs.

Under the country’s constitution, a minimum of five commissioners are required for it to function and the exit now leaves only three in office, hence paralyzing the electoral body.

The Kenyan political leaders are now calling on Mr Chebukati and the two remaining commissioners to also vacate office and give room for a new body to be constituted.

The Kenyan parliament is now reviewing the process of setting up a recruitment panel for new commissioners at the electoral agency.

Kenya’s National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee chairman William Cheptumo announced that it was developing a legal framework to establish a permanent selection panel.

However, the IEBC Chairman and the two remaining officers remained adamant that they had not committed any offence and demanded to be paid for the balance of their terms in office, if they are to resign.

“We have done nothing wrong and we are determined to go on with work, but if anyone wants us out, then we will ask to be paid for the remaining part of our terms.”

The commissioners have served for 14 months since their appointment in January 2017, eight months to the last elections.

SECURITY WITHDRAWN

But even as the tug of war between Kenya’s political leaders and the electoral commissioners continue, security personnel attached to the three were recalled Tuesday by the government.

The move sparked fear that the Kenyan government could be behind the recent wrangles at the electoral commission – which the opposition led by Raila Odinga had accused of being pro-government in last years’ polls.

Mr Odinga pulled out of the second round of elections, after the country’s court nullified the first one that had been held last August. Mr Odinga sited bias by the electoral commission and government interference in the running of elections as his basis of pulling out of the polls.

On Thuesday, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) protested the withdrawal of armed drivers assigned to its chairman Wafula Chebukati, and commissioners Ayub Guliye and Boya Molu exposes them to security risk.

The commission’s spokesman Andrew Limo said the commission wrote to Kenya’s Inspector General of Police seeking an explanation on the withdrawal of State security.

“The provision of security to the chairman and members of the commission during their tenure is within their contract of service, and this obligation ceases only when the contract expires,” said Mr Limo.

The action is interpreted by political analysts in the East African country as one meant to arm twist the three to exit too, and pave the way for the appointment of new commissioners.

It is believed that the politics of 2022 elections could be one of the reasons why the state is seeking to re-align the electoral body in preparation for the polls.

Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto is among the front runners in the race to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta whose term will expire after the 2022 polls.