Spotlight on IEBC’s preparedness ahead of the August General Elections

Even as the political temperatures continue to rise ahead of the August 9 polls, there is mounting concern on the level of preparedness on the part of the national election body which formed part of the basis for the nullification of the hotly contested August 2017 presidential elections by the Supreme Court.

Stakeholders and political groupings have raised questions about the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission’s (IEBC) readiness to oversee the exercise.

The Supreme Court ruled that the IEBC failed to conduct the elections in a manner consistent with the law and that the process did not meet the threshold of a transparent, credible and verifiable poll.

The failures were attributed to the late introduction of technology stemming from delays in procurement, which led to a lack of time for configuration and training.

Consequently, electoral technology was always going to play a key role during the 2017 elections.

The IEBC introduced the Kenya Integrated Electoral Management System (KIEMS)– a tablet-based system to identify voters and transmit results on election day.

The first mass voter registration in October 2021 was termed as shocking, only registering 25 per cent of eligible new voters, despite a court-mandated extension. This prompted a second briefer round in January 2022. While the dismal numbers have been blamed on voter apathy, a deeper underlying issue is confidence in the entire political system of which the electoral process is a key cog IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati said the agency will need Sh40.917 billion to adequately conduct the 2022 General Election.

Last year, Chebukati revealed the commission had prepared a Sh40.329 billion budget for the Election Operation Plan but estimated a further Sh588 million for acquiring items useful in Covid-19 prevention protocols.

As part of the preparation for the General Election, the commission launched its 2020-24 Strategic Plan and Election Operations Plan on June 15 2021.

A pre-election Economic and Fiscal Report released by the National Treasury in July 2017 estimated that the country was going to spend Sh49 billion in the August 8 Election.

However, another 12 billion was spent in the repeat election (presidential polls).

Chebukati has over time assured the agency is on course to deliver fair polls and do everything possible to ensure the General Election is transparent and dispute-free.

“As we reflect on the election processes, the Commission reassures you of its commitment to delivering a free, fair and credible August 9, 2022 General Election,” he said.

The Supreme Court nullified the presidential election following a successful election petition filed by Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Leader opposition leader Raila Odinga.

The country was set off on a political roller coaster that resulted in a Supreme Court election nullification, two presidential elections, and mass protests. No less a person than President Uhuru Kenyatta in his latest State of the Nation address estimated that the country lost Sh1 trillion during the worst of that election season.

Odinga claimed there had been deliberate manipulation of the electronic results transmission system and associated documentation.

The commission has so far had new recruits in prompts a rummage through their roots and history, to align them with the Commission’s work culture. It was on this premises that 64 newly recruited officers were inducted from 19 to 23 December 2021 in Naivasha. The new officers include Managers, Constituency Elections Coordinators, Constituency Administrative Assistants, Procurement Officers, Accountants and Warehouse Assistants.

The electoral body announced the campaign period for the upcoming general election will start on Sunday, May 29, and end on Saturday, August 6, just two days (48 hours) to the polls.

The electoral chairperson Wafula Chebukati stated the Campaigns will run from 7.00 am to 6.00 pm for the said dates.

“Political parties shall submit the party membership lists to the Commission on or before Saturday, April 9, 2022,” the electoral agency noted.

The Commission has also gazetted August 9, 2022, as the official date of the General Election, along with tentative dates and time for party primaries, as stipulated under the Elections Act, 2011.

Political parties fielding presidential candidates in the August 9 polls are required to submit names of interested individuals for nomination by April 9, 2022.

Party nominations will be held on April 30.

“Political parties shall submit the party membership lists to the Commission on or before Saturday, April 9, 2022,” the electoral agency noted.

Further, a political party intending to present a presidential candidate through direct nominations is required to submit their name to the Commission on or before Thursday, April 28.

Presidential aspirants intending to run on an independent candidate will not be members of any registered political party by Monday, May 2, 2022.

They are also required to submit their names and symbols on or before May 2.

“The Commission shall publish in the Gazette, the names and symbols of persons intending to contest in the election as independent candidates at least fourteen days before the nomination day being on or before Friday, May 13, 2022.”

It has assured that contingency plans are in place for the thousands of polling stations across the country without internet connectivity.