Enhance preparations to enable credible elections

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) must not leave anything to chance in the preparations for next year’s General Election. With the poll just under a year away, the electoral agency is working under tight timelines, and yet there is plenty to do.

An assurance IEBC chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon, and his team made on assuming office over a year ago was to enhance efficiency and transparency to enable free and fair elections. As the referee in this tricky political match, the IEBC needs to win the confidence of both the government side and the opposition.

The electoral agency has finally set the road to the election scheduled for August 10 next year. It has gazetted the election notice by activating constitutional and statutory deadlines governing voter registration, political party nominations and the campaigns. It is also reviewing election offences and the participation of public officials eyeing elective positions.

The IEBC will work to complete the preparations without further delays, court battles, or political interference. Last week, it suffered a setback when the High Court temporarily halted the tender for the supply of ballot papers and other election materials following a petition.

The first major deadline is October 15, when the political parties must submit to the IEBC the names of their authorised persons and specimen signatures. The total budget for the elections is Sh61 billion, with pending bills at Sh3 billion.

The IEBC needs to replace 45,325 electoral kits. But the election officials maintain that the procurement and 60 days of system testing remain within the legal timeline for the poll.

Proper preparations are essential and, therefore, the electoral agency must listen to both the ruling coalition and the opposition and resolve any sticking issues.

It is important that this vital national undertaking that enables the people to freely choose their leaders is handled above board. Mismanaging elections is a recipe for chaos that must be avoided.

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