Election chief casts doubt on fair poll
KENYA’S polls chief cast doubt yesterday on his organisation’s ability to hold a credible vote next week, pointing to internal divisions and interference by both major parties.
In the latest bombshell to hit the presidential election, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chief Wafula Chebukati lambasted political leaders and his staff just hours after another commissioner announced her resignation after fleeing to New York.
“Let me be very clear that this is a yellow card to both sides. I will not tolerate the interference in the commission anymore,” Chebukati said in a no-holdsbarred statement in which he slammed the “arrogance and narcissism of our political class”.
“Political leaders who are supposed to build the nation have become the greatest threat to the peace and stability of the nation,” he said.
Kenyans are due to go to the polls on October 26 for a second time, after the supreme court last month overturned the result of the initial election due to “irregularities” in the counting process, and mismanagement by poll officials.
The ruling was a rare victory for veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga, who claimed the poll had been rigged in favour of President Uhuru Kenyatta, and seen as a sign of Kenya’s mature democracy and institutions.
However, the decision has been followed by acrimony, legal battles and confusion over how to carry out a credible new election in the constitutionally mandated 60-day period.
Odinga last week announced he was withdrawing from the race, arguing the move would legally force the IEBC to begin the process from scratch, allowing more time for deep reforms.
However, the commission has pushed forward with plans to hold the election. In a statement announcing her resignation as one of seven IEBC commissioners, Roselyn Akombe said the panel could not provide a credible election.
“I do not want to be party to such a mockery to electoral integrity,” she wrote.
Chebukati said operationally the IEBC was ready to hold the election, but politically the environment left much to be desired.
He outlined steps taken to ensure all tallying forms were standardised, that network coverage to allow transmission of results was improved and that poll officials were better-trained.
However, he questioned how credible the election would be if Odinga did not take part.
He said that without changes to key secretariat staff – the permanent members of the IEBC – a “free, fair and credible election will surely be compromised”.
He called on them to “step aside to allow this team to function without interference”.
He appealed to Odinga and Kenyatta, embroiled in a dynastic political feud, to hold talks to help reduce tensions. –