IEBC Clarifies Getting 60 Requests from Kenyans to Recall MPs
- Only four requests have thus far been submitted to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) by voters who want to recall their MPs
- Reports emerged online that the IEBC was in receipt of requests from electorates in 60 constituencies to have their MPs recalled
- The electoral agency refuted the claims, saying it was fake, adding to the basket of misinformation escapades the new team has been dealing with in the recent past
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Dealing with fake news seems to be the harrowing task of the new team at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Source: Twitter
Less than a fortnight since the commission was sworn in, misinformation has been peddled, raising concerns about the commission's preparedness to manage the country's electoral process without a blemish.
Has IEBC received 60 request to recall MPs?
Recently, unfounded reports emerged that the commission had received requests from the electorate in 60 constituencies to recall their MPs.
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The commission flagged reports as fake news.
Meanwhile, the IEBC confirmed getting requests from voters in four constituencies to recall their MPs.
IEBC chairman Erastus Ethekon confirmed the report, saying that each matter will be assessed to determine if they meet the legal threshold that could occasion byelections.
Meanwhile, a group of diplomats from Western countries have called on Kenya to allow the new team at IEBC ample time to undertake their duties.
What foreign diplomats said over IEBC
Envoys from at least 13 countries suggested that they would be monitoring how the IEBC carries out its mandate after reconstitution.
In their counsel to the commission, the diplomats asked the team to confine itself to such tenets of democracy as transparency and fairness.
"We welcome the appointment of the new Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson and commissioners...We trust the new commissioners will carry out their mandate with impartiality, transparency, and professionalism in service to all Kenyans," they said.
Source: Twitter
At the same time, the envoys urged the Kenyan government to provide an enabling environment for the commission to independently undertake its constitutional obligations.
They observed that the dignity of the Kenyan democracy can only be safeguarded by the IEBC, which they said requires a conducive political environment to operate in.
"As Kenya's longstanding partners and fellow democracies, we affirm the critical role independent institutions play in upholding the provisions of Kenya's constitution, particularly those guaranteeing free, fair, and credible elections. The IEBC plays a foundational role in safeguarding the integrity of Kenya's electoral processes and ensuring public confidence in democratic outcomes," they said.
What foreign diplomats asked Kenyan govt to do for IEBC
Taking cognisance of budgetary challenges awaiting the commission, the diplomats called on the National Assembly and the Exchequer to facilitate sufficient budget for the electoral agency.
"Looking ahead, we encourage the National Assembly and National Treasury to provide the IEBC with timely and sufficient budgetary support, which is essential to its effective and independent operation. We also urge relevant institutions to take the necessary steps to ensure all eligible citizens can register as voters and participate in the electoral process," they said.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
