Civil Societies Urge for Electoral Integrity and Credibility

NAIROBI--As confusion persists over the procurement of electronic voter registration system   for Kenya’s general elections scheduled for March 2013, several organizations have urged Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to revert to manual voter registration, while the cabinet insists on biometric voter registration.

On money IEBC cancelled and soon after reinstated the procurement for Biometric Voter Registration kits following a row in the tendering process. IEBC Chief Executive Officer James Oswago had announced the cancelation but was overruled the commission’s Procurement Manager Bernard Nyachio.

This follows a controversy that emerged after the IEBC failed to award the tender for the Biometric Voter Registration kits .The row over the purchase of 9,750 Biometric Voter Registration kits has sent fresh fears of delays in the electoral process, with IEBC bosses admitting registration of voters, which was to take off mid-next month will now be pushed to early September due to the delay in acquisition of the kit.

This week, Civil Society Organizations under Kenyans for Peace with Truth and Justice also called for cancellation of the tender terming it as ‘flawed’. The group said the process failed to inspire public confidence and that a new process must be initiated. The  International Center for Policy and Conflict (ICPC) added their voice, saying the upcoming elections are very sensitive transitional elections that must be handled with caution and care.

“The rebirth of a country under completely different constitutional order is at stake. In this regard, credible and legitimate elections constitute such a key step in building a new nation, says ICPC boss Wainaina Ndungu.

He notes that even though IEBC is a constitutionally independent both institutionally and decision-making, that independence is facing real challenge flowing from the unpleasant latest events in the Commission regarding tendering for biometric voter registration.

Mr Ndungu says elections are significant event in a democratic process but if their integrity is compromised, so is the legitimacy of democracy.  They urge Kenyan electoral managers to handle the exercise with integrity,  not just for democracy, but also for security, human rights, and development imperatives.

“It is our concern that lack of electoral transparency and accountability, the use of money or violence to influence or intimidate voters and the criminalization of politics are critical problems in Kenya politics,” he says.

In many African countries, successful elections have strengthened democratic institutions and practices while enhancing opportunities for economic development. In others, credible elections have paved the way for national reconciliations and democracy. At the same time, flawed elections have sparked violence, further polarizing a divided society and eroding public confidence in political and electoral processes.

Therefore, they say the upcoming Kenya elections are looked at with great degree of anxiousness and interest by many other neighboring countries, whose future of freedom and democracy is also at stake. Whether the Kenyan people will be able to complete their bid and deliver a peaceful and credible election that expresses the real will of all, and that contributes to consolidating the initial steps in the path to democracy, is very much hoped for and remains to be seen during the coming months.