Work out rational exit plan for IEBC

Electoral commissioners have finally come out to declare their desire to exit the scene to pave the way for reforms in the voting process.

This is a significant step and helps to resolve a vexed matter that has dominated public discourse for far too long.

In a presentation to the joint committee of Parliament, commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) have submitted a proposal on their departure although they want to be paid for the remainder of their term in office and an undertaking that they would not be prosecuted for crimes that may have happened under their watch.

Clearly, that is a move in the right direction and helps to unlock many things.

The commissioners enjoy security of tenure and removing them from office requires a tribunal.

Accusations have been levelled against them but are yet to be proved in any court of law.

At any rate, they have been cleared of some of the accusations by the respective authorities, including the Auditor General. So, it is not easy to get rid of them.

Even so, the public mood is that the commission is tainted and cannot be trusted to run an election.

The problem with perception is that however erroneous it may be, it determines how people relate with an institution.

It is worse when the institution is a referee over an election which in our case, is viciously contested and where any whiff of unfairness quickly leads to violence.

So, although the commissioners may be clean, a sizeable section of the public does not have confidence in them.

In such circumstances, the best option is to exit and let others take over.

The joint committee led by Senators Kiraitu Murungi and James Orengo must work out a rational exit plan for the commissioners, but that does not mean making concessions to appease anyone.

Painful decisions must be made and individuals asked to take responsibility for their actions.