Francis Kissinger roots for operationalisation of IEBC Fund to ensure sustainability of electoral process
Kissinger said his main priority was the creation of a dedicated IEBC Fund, which he emphasized as critical for the sustainability of the electoral process.
In his bid to become the next IEBC Chairperson, Francis Kakai Kissinger a former Deputy Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, has vowed to address several key challenges facing the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as an expert on reforms during his interview before the panel on Tuesday.
In response to a question from IEBC selection panel member Dr Koki Muli, who asked him to identify three priority challenges and outline how they would address them to ensure the commission's rebirth, Kissinger pointed to funding, credibility, and legal gaps as the most pressing issues.
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Kissinger said his main priority was the operationalisation of a dedicated IEBC Fund, which he emphasized as critical for the sustainability of the electoral process.
Kissinger pointed to the Lack of implementation of the IEBC Act section 18, which allows the formation of IEBC Fund.
“Up to now, we do not have it because it is yet to be implemented. The IEBC fund good, to ensure the money that is not coming from the exchequer, are acquired from other development partners, and accounted for to enhance the electoral process,” he said.
Section 18 of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Act refers to the IEBC Fund and its management. Specifically, it outlines the establishment, purpose, and usage of the fund.
As of now, the IEBC Fund under Section 18 of the IEBC Act has not been fully implemented or operationalised.
This could be due to various reasons, such as the need for additional regulations, government budget allocations, or institutional arrangements to make the fund functional.
While the law mandates the creation of the fund, its actual establishment and the specific mechanisms for managing it might still be in progress or pending full implementation.
This can sometimes happen if the legal framework exists but the practical steps, such as the necessary budgetary allocations and setup of financial systems, have not yet been fully carried out.
“The IEBC Fund is good, but the money coming from external partners is not enough to fully support the commission's work,” Kissinger said.
He argued that to enhance the electoral process, the IEBC needs a more stable and sustainable funding model.
Other reforms
Kissinger’s second priority challenge he pledged to address was restoring the credibility of the IEBC.
He acknowledged the significant trust deficit that exists between the commission and various stakeholders, including political parties and voters.
He emphasized the importance of confidence in the commission for the smooth conduct of elections, saying, “We have two years to the general elections, so once I am elected, I will ensure the credibility of the commission comes first and ensure that the correct stakeholders are in place.”
Kissinger said that improving the IEBC’s credibility would be a cornerstone of his leadership, and he committed to ensuring that all necessary reforms would be undertaken to restore public trust.
The third priority challenge he said he would address was the gaps in electoral law, which he believes continue to hinder the IEBC’s effectiveness.
While acknowledging that some gaps have been addressed by the judiciary, Kissinger pointed out that these issues have not yet been fully incorporated into legislation.
“We have so many gaps in the law, although they have been addressed by the judiciary, they have not been taken into legislation,” he explained.
Kissinger stressed that these legal gaps must be resolved to ensure that the IEBC operates within a solid and comprehensive legal framework.
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