UPCOMING BY-ELECTIONS A LITMUS CHECK FOR IEBC AND STAKEHOLDERS.

UPCOMING BY-ELECTIONS A LITMUS CHECK FOR IEBC AND STAKEHOLDERS.

Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors, so goes a sagacious old African axiom.

With at least 1 Senatorial, 6 National Assembly and 16 County Assembly seats vacant and up for grabs, the recently constituted Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Commissioners panel, has its work already cut. With no relaxed time to gather their tools of trade, sharpen and oil their arsenal, unclog the systems and clear the path for the by-elections, the IEBC Commissioners must occupy the space and have all hands-on-deck.

With the country already being served a litany of political formations to choose from and with the tectonic political shifts and realignments, the IEBC requires strategic support from all stakeholders in order to not just deliver the upcoming by-elections and be equipped for the titanic 2027 general elections.

The first factor on the table is the de-fatigable Gen Z youth factor and vehemence that has clung its talons on the political and the ruling elites’ conscience. Since the June 2024 nationwide protests, this country will never be the same again in terms of political organizing. The emboldened zeal to ask tough governance questions from a non-biased, non-tribal and fearless front thrust in itself a new chapter in terms of political activism. The courage despite the eminent and real threats of state-sanctioned violence, illegal arrests, abductions and disappearances, torture and pallid charges like terrorism and illegal detention is a level that we must contend with. The desire to have streamlined political and governance systems and institutional accountability must inform IEBC that this time round, ill-preparedness, voter manipulation and meddling with results count, tallying, transmission and announcement will not be tolerated by this fearless and phantom like GenZ’s. They are informed, exposed, energized and tech mavericks and therefore as they say, not like their aloof siblings and Behind their backs, there must be millions of millennials and elders principally supporting their cause.

Political parties too, must use the upcoming by-elections to ensure that they put their ‘houses’ in order. A quick glance at the political party’s activities indicates that a lull ensued after the 2022 elections and most of their offices remain closed and dormant with their regional officers permanently shut. This is the best time to dust their paraphernalia in readiness for the by-elections and be steady for the party primaries and general elections. The Office of Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) must too flex its muscles and ensure that all political parties must toe the electoral policy and law line.

With a worrying Human rights violations atmosphere as depicted since the June 2024 Gen-Z protests, going for heightened political processes like by-elections and subsequently the general elections must worry all. This is so especially where clearly those who have been real or imagined being vocal in questioning the status quo of the political and governing elite have been harassed at home and in neighboring countries and or eliminated. If this modus-operandi will be anything to go by, then the very ideals of universal suffrage will be highly compromised. The credible Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) have released grim and highly traumatizing figures of gross human rights violations, some bordering on international crimes. These must end! the DCI, the ODPP and the Judiciary must henceforth disembark from enabling this tirade of illegal arrests, inane prosecutions laden with illogical detentions and sky-high bail and bond terms.

The ethnic card being pulled by some political and ruling elites to whip ethnic sympathy and support is self-defeating. While they think they are pulling their community conclaves together and solidifying their parochial bases, it only weakness the nation’s bond and lessons from the now fragile and bleeding states like Somalia and Southern Sudan must ring a bell. The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) must gather its strength and without prejudice and bias ensure that those who flare ethnic slur and mobilization are dealt with. We need to see heads rolling literally, so that others can be saved during the electoral phase.

Rumors of laying for groundwork for violence and ethnic cleansing too is a trend that needs utmost attention. Unconfirmed reports have it that some notable figures might be stock-piling weapons in readiness for chaos and mayhem during the political campaigns and or after the elections. Such rumors must never be taken lightly and the highest offices in this land must assure Kenyans of their preparedness and willingness to arrest and deal with such a situation. We cannot afford bloodshed, we saw and felt it in 2007-8.

While the constitution allows Kenyans to savor from a buffet of Political fronts, the width and depth does not call for negative diversity but rather freedom of choice and the room for divergent opinion. The diversity must be celebrated. While it’s expected that political ideological realignment is healthy, this must not push the country to a verge of hatred and political philosophy animosity. The calls for ‘Wantam’ or ‘Tutam’ should not provide a platform for warring but rather should crystalize the resolve and competition towards the best political offer based on the best interest of the welfare of the common Kenyan.

Finally, respect for the rule of law and fidelity to the constitution should be the hallmark for the by-elections and the subsequent political processes. The National Assembly and Senate must oversee policy and legal reforms which will provide a formidable ground for the by-elections and general elections. This should not be rushed but rather done within the stipulated constitutional timelines. These reforms should include supporting and allocating required resources to the IEBC, KNCHR and other important institutions who have a stake in elections.

Above all, the rule of law and respect for human rights in elections should be non derogable.