This archive report was first published on 13 July 2021.
July 13, 2021 - Nairobi, Kenya
Irene Masit, a commissioner hopeful at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, has linked flawed party nominations to election violence.
Speaking to the IEBC selection panel, Masit recalled her experience when she vied for Elgeyo Marakwet woman representative in 2013 and emerged number two.
She expressed concerns over party nominations, which she deemed not credible, and cited delays and postponements as a recipe for rigging.
‘I had concerns on party nominations, which were not credible,’ Masit told the panel.
She added that electoral violence can be avoided if nominations were credible and that a lack of campaign funds locks out great would-be leaders.
On the poll day, there was a delay in announcing results, she noted.
Further, Masit said she backed out of running for woman representative in 2017 due to the high costs involved, which she estimated to be almost Sh100 billion.
She emphasized the need for an independent Returning Officer and Deputy Returning Officer to ensure the process is free and fair.
With 669 applications received by the panel for the commissioner posts, the vacancies arose following the resignation of four commissioners, leaving only chairman Wafula Chebukati, Abdi Guliye, and Boya Molu in office.
