Dilemma of donors funding IEBC in spite of integrity questions

Western donors are at pains to explain their continued funding of Kenya’s electoral body despite serious integrity and credibility issues facing the leadership of the agency.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is currently receiving technical and financial backing from the European Union alongside countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Denmark, and Norway.

The foreign powers have defended their sustained funding of IEBC despite ongoing investigations of the agency’s top officials named in the now infamous ‘‘chickengate’’ scandal where directors of a British firm bribed electoral officials to win tenders.

The election body is also under the spotlight over its handling of the contested 2013 General Election — where IEBC chairman Ahmed Issack Hassan in an affidavit disparaged the character of Opposition chief Raila Odinga — which was seen as a clear manifestation of bias.

The EU, which last month doubled its electoral assistance to Kenya by doling out €5 million (Sh563.7 million) to the IEBC, said it had laid down strict procedures on how the cash will be utilised.

The European bloc said the money is channelled through a basket fund managed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and will be closely monitored at every stage.

“All expenditures made under the basket fund will need to comply with UNDP financial management and procurement rules,” said the EU delegation in Kenya.

“The EU contribution to the same fund will be subjected to close scrutiny from the EU delegation, which will take any additional measures where necessary, such as additional audits and evaluations, to ensure the integrity of operations and good use of EU taxpayers’ money,” the bloc said in response to queries from the Business Daily.

The EU support came ahead of IEBC’s mass voter registration which kicked off on February 15 and closed on Tuesday. The ‘‘chickengate’’ scandal and questions around the March 2013 polls have ominously hanged around IEBC’s neck like an albatross.

The UK also said that its support to IEBC will be funnelled through the UNDP in a bid to ensure the integrity of the funds and co-ordinate programmes.

READ: IEBC's Hassan named in fresh 'chickengate' papers

Also read: Election chiefs in first chickengate 'bribes' defence

“None of our funding goes directly to the IEBC, or other Kenyan government institutions,” said the British High Commission in Nairobi.

“It should also be noted that the UK Government undertakes robust due diligence on all organisations it funds (including multi-lateral agencies) to ensure that fiduciary risks are managed, resources are spent on their intended purpose, and UK taxpayers’ contributions are protected.”

The British government said it has pledged Sh566 million between 2015 and 2018 to support Kenya’s electoral system by helping build public confidence in the IEBC; and tackling organisational challenges such as planning and procurement.

The continued financing of the IEBC by Western powers flies in the face of sustained pressure by donors that Kenya must tackle corruption.

A dozen Western envoys in November last year visited Kenya’s anti-graft agency and announced that they would impose travel restrictions on officials linked to corruption, saying graft was undermining the economy.

“We are prepared to take further steps to support the Kenyan authorities including, when permitted by law, the return of stolen assets to the Kenyan people or to impose travel restrictions on those responsible for graft,” the envoys said in a joint statement they issued after the meeting at Integrity Centre in Nairobi.

The statement was read to the press by US Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec, who led the team to the EACC offices.

Mr Hassan, who also chaired the defunct IIEC, tops the list of those adversely mentioned in court papers detailing the scam where electoral and examination officials pocketed Sh52 million in bribes code-named ‘‘chicken.’’

Other members of the ‘‘chicken gang’’ include former Judiciary registrar Gladys Boss Shollei (ex-deputy CEO at IIEC), sacked Energy secretary Davis Chirchir (former commissioner at IIEC), former IEBC chief executive James Oswago, lawyer Kennedy Nyaundi (ex-commissioner), Kenneth Karani (senior procurement officer), an unnamed finance director, former Electoral Commission of Kenya commissioner Joseph Khamis Dena and former Kenya National Examinations Council boss Paul Wasanga.

Denmark said it does not currently fund the IEBC, adding that its forthcoming electoral support will be done through the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) as the implementing partner.

No financial support will be advanced to the IEBC but capacity development, the Danish embassy in Nairobi said. Allegations that top officials at the electoral body pocketed bribes have eroded Kenyans’ trust and confidence in IEBC — which was able to register a paltry 1.4 million new voters in the just concluded mass listing exercise out of a target of 4.1 million— reflecting widespread apathy. Furthermore, six out of every 10 Kenyans or 58 per cent of the population want the current crop of IEBC commissioners removed, according to the latest poll by research firm Ipsos.

Mr Hassan has maintained his innocence in the ‘‘chickengate’’ bribery scandal and vowed to stay put at the helm of IEBC to preside over the 2017 General Election.

Grilled by EACC

‘‘My appearance and alleged involvement in the chicken gate scandal will not in any way dent my credibility to manage the next polls,” said Mr Hassan on March 8, 2016 after he was grilled by EACC detectives over the scam. Norway, which currently co-chairs the donor group on elections together with Denmark, also said that the Scandinavian county is presently not funding IEBC.

“In order for the IEBC to re-energise its leadership, emphasis must be placed on rebuilding public trust through effective stakeholder engagement and strong communication of the commission’s election operations plan,” said Victor Rønneberg, Norwegian ambassador to Kenya.

The Nordic economy gave a total of $2.1 million (Sh210 million) during the 2012-2013 period to fund electoral reforms and support for the IEBC, and peaceful political transition.

Mr Odinga says serious steps need to be taken to restore Kenyans’ conference in IEBC in light of the ‘‘chicken’’ scam and the ‘‘mismanagement’’ of the 2013 polls. “IEBC remains a public institution in which Kenyans have the least amount of faith,” said Mr Odinga on February 10, 2016 after meeting a delegation from the European Union.

“It is our feeling that if serious steps are not taken to restore the confidence of Kenyans in this public body then we may very well face an unpredictable 2017 process; a scenario that none of the stakeholders who mean well for the nation desire,” Mr Odinga said.
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