Chief Justice Martha Koome has challenged the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to prove to the country that they have fixed the 2017 poll mistakes.
Speaking during a media briefing on election preparedness, Koome said that the country’s expectation is that the IEBC is consciously working to ensure its processes meet the demands of the principles of the electoral system as elaborated in Articles 81 and 86 of the Constitution.
She cited the Supreme Court’s nullification of the 2017 presidential election which she said happened because IEBC did not conduct the election in conformity with the Constitution and the law.
“The Supreme Court did not find any evidence of misconduct by the candidates but instead saw in evidence, a systemic institutional problem,” she said.
“The Court specified that IEBC while discharging its constitutional mandate must always conform with the Constitution and electoral law by ensuring that all required processes are simple, accurate, verifiable, secure, accountable, and transparent,” she added.
She mentioned this in the context of recent prayers and fasting days held by the judiciary.
The CJ hinted that in running affairs of the public office one needs divine intervention.
Koome noted that the IEBC has clear guidance and standards to adhere to when it comes to election management.
She urged Kenyans including IEBC bosses to repent for past failures and seek God’s guidance as they manage the election.
“Some things are sometimes bigger than us. We need divine intervention and where we have failed, we ask God to forgive us and I believe every Kenyan will be confessing their sins including IEBC where they faltered, they will ask for forgiveness and they will look forward to doing their work properly,” Koome said.
The CJ also assured Kenyans that her integrity and independence of the judiciary in dealing with election disputes are not going to reduce because of her relations with other arms of government.
Kenya Kwanza camp led by Deputy President William Ruto has also asked IEBC to address six issues they believe will ensure free and fair elections come August.
Ruto’s presidential campaign team led by Turkana governor Josphat Nanok said these are the “irreducible minimums” IEBC must address ahead of the fast-approaching August polls.
United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary-General Veronica Maina buttressed her party’s stand.
The alliance now wants the electoral agency to make public a report by audit firm KPMG on the analysis of the voter register while at the same time providing certified copies of the voter register held by IEBC.
They moreover want the voters’ rolls by various electoral units, polling stations, wards, constituency, and county levels to be made public to restore public confidence in the electoral body.