Why Hassan faces uphill task

All eyes will be on electoral boss Issack Hassan — the man who shall announce the results of the General Election.

Unlike the defunct Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK), which bungled the 2007 polls, and which was assembled unilaterally by an interested party in the elections, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) was selected in an open and transparent manner.

In 2007, Kenyans felt that Mr Samuel Kivuitu was at the head of a partisan team that was vulnerable to manipulation by the Executive.

In contrast today, Kenyans have a lot of faith in the IEBC and expect it to deliver a credible, free and fair election.

Let us not go there

“We have to learn from the lessons of 2007 and let us not go there again. I want to tell Kenyans to have full confidence in the IEBC. We will be professional, independent and transparent because we have the interest of the country at heart,” Mr Hassan, who chairs the polls agency said.

At a recent meeting with top government and business leaders, Mr Hassan said he would not announce results if the polls are rigged.

“All leaders, all contestants, have to accept the authority of the commission. If things happen, they will happen by default, not by design. Under my leadership, I will not be able to announce results where I know there has been rigging,” he said.

Mr Hassan has previously been tested during by-elections and the 2010 constitutional referendum, but how he will manage the March 4 General Election will determine his legacy.

“There’s so much to be done, too little time and very high expectation. We’re doing everything possible to ensure we have a credible election. But please understand that it will not be a perfect election. We ask for your understanding and appreciation.”

Public confidence

In 2009, the agency got its first test during the by-elections for Shinyalu and Bomachoge constituencies soon after Mr Hassan was sworn into office.

The by-elections tested the IEBC’s ability and were also an opportunity to win public confidence and credibility as a agency capable of organising free, fair and democratic elections.

And the referendum in 2010 was praised locally and internationally as having been professionally conducted.

But malpractices such as the use of hate speech by political leaders in the run-up to the vote, misuse of public resources by state officers, acts of intimidation and misrepresentation of the contents of the Constitution were highlighted as key challenges for the IEBC.

Observers noted that if such malpractices are not robustly challenged and dealt with, they could undermine the good progress the commission and Kenyans have made in the electoral reforms.

They further noted that problems existed with regard to the accuracy and ‘completeness’ of the voter register, the procedure of helping voters and the high number of rejected ballots.