Fund electoral body IEBC to properly execute its mandate
Political mobilisation in Kenya continues to be anchored on ethnic identities. Tribal kingpins influence decision-making during elections.
Taking advantage of the poor political education among a huge section of the population, politicians whip up the base instincts of their supporters to seek solidarity in elections.
Efforts by crusaders for integrity in democracy to ensure individuals untangle themselves from the shackles and make decisions on other informed considerations have largely been unsuccessful.
The arrangement has opened the window for individuals of questionable integrity, judgement and talent to cheat their way to critical positions of decision-making with grave consequences to their electorate.
The Constitution emphasises the sovereignty of the people to choose their leaders.
Indeed, the Supreme law has placed the people at the centre of critical political decision making by the obligation for public participation. This requires some considerable level of political awareness.
There is an argument that people get the kind of government they deserve. As one English writer famously put it, “a people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves and traitors are not victims... but accomplices”.
But in a country with a high illiterate voting population and selfish political elite, the voters cannot be left to their devices.
That is why there should be deliberate investment in voter and political education.
The Constitution entrusts this responsibility mainly with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), but political parties also have a duty to educate their supporters.
Though cardinal in the electoral process, this constitutional obligation on voter education is highly neglected.
Only eight months to the next General Election, the polls agency is out there begging for funds to conduct its critical processes – including voter education.
The problem is attributable to failure by the National Treasury to release the requisite cash as well as a sanction to donors against providing what has been traditional support to protect the integrity of democracy.
The agency and other stakeholders, including the civil society, have warned that their members may not be able to undertake effective monitoring and observation of the elections because of the cash crisis.
The unending story of the IEBC funding has been painful and troubling. We ask those concerned to put their acts together and assist the agency execute its mandate, particularly voter education.
