By Eddah Waithaka
A group of civil society organizations under the Uchaguzi platform have called on the newly appointed gazetted IEBC selection panel to appoint new IEBC Commissioners with a strong commitment to independence, impartiality, transparency, and inclusivity. Their aim is to restore the public trust that has been diminished.
Speaking on Friday, Mulle Musau, the National Coordinator for the Election Observation Group, emphasized that any disruptions in the recruitment process could compromise the integrity and credibility of the General Election.
“We urge all stakeholders particularly the political class to respect the process and accord the selection panel the ample opportunity to complete it’s legal mandate so as to safeguard the integrity of the process,” Musau said.
“All relevant state entities including Parliament and the Presidency should expedite their roles in the recruitment and appointment process_given the 132 day timeline, it’s crucial to ensure timely and efficient execution with efforts to shorten the timeline where possible,” Musau added.
Musau also called upon the Judiciary to prioritize and expedite any legal matters related to the recruitment process to avoid delays and ensure the timely completion of the task.
“Uchaguzi members encourage all applicants who qualify under the law, meeting the constitutional and legal requirements, and who demonstrate aptitude integrity, and commitment, to apply for the IEBC commissioner roles upon advertisement. This will greatly contribute to the procurement of a competent commission,” he added.
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In light of the urgency, the platform urged President William Ruto to allocate sufficient funding to empower the commission to effectively carry out its primary responsibilities in organizing and conducting elections. “With new voters anticipated for the 2027 elections and the necessity for an independent audit of the voter register to build trust, it is crucial that the registration process starts without delay to prevent last-minute scrambles,” the statement said.
Felix Odhiambo Odiwour, the Executive Director of the Electoral Law and Governance Institute for Africa, expressed his gratitude for the nine legislative proposals from NADCO, highlighting that some have already been enacted into law.
He particularly emphasized the importance of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Amendment Bill and the Political Parties Amendment Act 2024, which aim to tackle longstanding institutional challenges.
Odhiambo urged for a strong and impactful public participation in electoral reform processes that transcends mere token consultations. He emphasized the need for authentic input from citizens in the legislative process.
“We demand a comprehensive approach that maintains transparency and accountability in governance restructuring. The forty five day window for these bills represents a crucial moment of democratic deliberation and it’s an opportunity for parliamentarians to demonstrate their commitment to truly representative governance_not just in structure, but in substantive impact on citizens’ lives,” Odiwour said.
Supporting her colleagues’ remarks, Sheila Masinde, Executive Director of Transparency International-Kenya, urged the National Registration Bureau to create a fast-tracked process for issuing IDs specifically for youth aged 18 to 25, complete with clear timelines and simplified procedures.
She stressed that both county and national governments should launch regular mobile ID registration campaigns aimed at educational institutions and youth centers. By integrating service centers and offering ID and voter registration services at the ward level, the timeline for registration could be significantly shortened.
“Reform the current ID application process by reducing documentation requirements while maintaining necessary security measures as well as digitizing the application process,” Masinde said.
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