Discussion about removal of the chiefs does not get to the root of the problem bedeviling our elections.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has been in the news lately for the wrong reasons. First was the suspension of the CEO, Ezra Chiloba.
Last Monday three of the remaining six commissioners resigned due to what they stated as disagreement over the leadership style of chairman Wafula Chebukati.
Subsequently there have been calls and pressure for the remaining commissioners to resign to pave the way for appointment of new people. Others argue that what is required is an overhaul of the commission.
Politicians who only a few short months held different positions on the IEBC now seem united in the removal of the commissioners. They only disagree on timing and how far the removal call should go.
Should it include the Secretariat or not? If so, a few or all? Previous sentiments about the commission being independent and disbandment being unconstitutional have conveniently been forgotten.
The discussion about removal of the commissioners, however, is reactive, insincere and does not get to the root of the problem bedeviling our elections.
Those in the know will realise that the problem is not with the seven individuals who took over office in January, 2017. They may have made mistakes in the discharge of their duties, for which they have to be held accountable.
But the problem is bigger than them. If we do not solve this latter problem, the next set of commissioners will face the same problem and most likely end their term in similar fashion.
The country must sequence the discussions about reforming the IEBC by first focusing on an honest diagnosis of the real problem bedeviling the institution and fixing it. It is less about the quality of those appointed to the institution and more about politicisation of election management.
Because of vested political interests, the appointment process and operations of the institution is poisoned such that even with the best intentions, the human beings charged with that responsibility find it almost impossible to deliver.
If you add onto the fact that the appointment process focuses on identifying political control levers much more than technical competence, it becomes surprising that we then blame the individuals for not delivering.
We have to ask ourselves whether in looking for commissioners, we are serious about getting people with technical expertise. Secondly, if we really desire to have these people operate independently? Thirdly, whether we assess them based on technical as opposed to political lenses?
In addition, if the calibre of people we get to serve also have either managerial or technical limitations then the context exacerbates the difficulties that the institution and the election process experience.
It is important we answer several questions before moving to the stage of appointments. First, we have to honestly discuss what kind of Commission we require.
There is international consensus on the types of election management bodies. The country must, based on its recent experience, debate whether the choice we made is the more suitable option.
Second, the vexing question of the relationship between the commission and the Secretariat.
Both in the run up to the 2013 and 2017 elections, this issue was the subject of discussions. As the recent events at the IEBC demonstrate, it is necessary to revisit this relationship and make firm and difficult decisions. An arrangement where you essentially have two centres of power is courting a crisis.
Third, is the structure of the secretariat. The Chebukati Commission made an important decision by appointing county election managers in recognition of the fact that counties are an important locus of Kenya’s elections.
It is necessary to build on this decision by reviewing the entire institutional architecture of the Commission so that you have an institution that is lean and efficient.
Fourth, the country has to relook the relationships between the commission and other stakeholders so as to build public trust in elections and enhance independence.
Elections is both a technical and political process. Addressing both sides of the coin should be part of any discourse on IEBC reforms.
A focus on individuals alone will not deliver a meaningful break.
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