Kalonzo: Those delaying reconstitution of IEBC have self-centred interests

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has criticised the slow reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), accusing those delaying the process of advancing personal interests ahead of the 2027 General Election.

He described the delay as a deliberate move that undermines national priorities.

Speaking on Tuesday, Musyoka emphasised that the reconstitution of the IEBC should be a matter of national urgency.

He pointed out that the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO), a bipartisan initiative he co-led, had recommended that the process be expedited.

“Following the NADCO process last year, there has been very little progress on the recommendations. It is difficult to understand why,” Musyoka said.

"Is someone deliberately delaying the implementation of these recommendations for sinister and selfish reasons? Timelines for credible elections are quickly fading away.”

The Wiper leader stressed that delays in the reconstitution process were unacceptable, urging those obstructing it to prioritise the nation’s common good over personal gain.

Kalonzo also expressed concerns about the legal processes and electoral reforms that often arise too close to election dates, leaving them vulnerable to manipulation by those with legislative influence.

Enhance transparency

He called on the IEBC to begin preparations for the upcoming elections, particularly urging the commission to enhance transparency through technology. He also emphasised the importance of voter education, especially regarding digital tools to be used in the electoral process.

Musyoka also highlighted the potential role of artificial intelligence (AI) in elections, welcoming its use to expedite the electoral process while cautioning against its misuse.

He warned that while AI could make the process faster and more secure, it also posed risks, particularly with the spread of misinformation.

“AI is at once an opportunity and a challenge. Used well, AI can make the electoral processes faster, more secure, and more scientifically verifiable and acceptable by all parties,” Kalonzo said.

"But AI also poses serious challenges. Badly used, AI-generated content and material have been found to close the gap between what is real and what is fake. Together with all the advantages, AI has also opened up the world to fakery and quackery. We are said to be living in the post-truth age. When the ingredients of this age are infused into electoral processes, they can only spell distaste.”

Leverage technology

Musyoka, who has announced his presidential ambitions for the 2027 elections, reiterated the need to leverage technology to boost the credibility of future elections, following contentious results in the last three general elections.

The IEBC is currently grappling with a constitutional crisis, lacking commissioners and facing a missed deadline for reviewing constituency and ward boundaries, which was due by March 2024.

IEBC Chief Executive Officer Marjan Hussein Marjan disclosed that the commission had sought the Supreme Court’s opinion on whether the boundary review could proceed without commissioners and if the constitutional deadlines could be extended.

“We seek the Supreme Court’s guidance on whether the commission can undertake the delimitation process without commissioners, whether the review can occur after the deadlines have lapsed, and whether the constitutional timelines can be extended,” Marjan said.

The IEBC has been without commissioners since January 2023, following the end of the terms of former chairman Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye.

Four other commissioners – Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Justus Nyang'aya, and Irene Masit – were removed from office following their dissent against the 2022 presidential election results, which declared President William Ruto the winner.

Marjan warned that the commission must complete the boundary review at least a year before the 2027 General Election to allow for adequate election mapping and preparations.