Foreign Diplomats Issue Statement on IEBC Reconstitution Ahead of 2027 Polls
- The international community is keen on the undertakings of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as it begins the preparations for the 2027 vote
- The commission is now fully constituted following the swearing in of the chairman and commissioners in Nairobi
- Foreign diplomats called on the team to be confined to such tenets of democracy as fairness and transparency; as well as calling on the government to facilitate the commission's budget
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A group of diplomats from Western countries have called on Kenya to allow the new team at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) ample time to undertake their duties.
Source: Twitter
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.
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"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.
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.
Pledging support to Kenya and enhancing its growth in democracy, the diplomat declared;
"We stand ready, working in partnership, to further strengthen electoral systems and bolster public trust in Kenya's democratic institutions."
The diplomats were drawn from Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland, Australia, Switzerland, Norway, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Sweden and Finland.
What new IEBC team promised Kenyans
Their statement came days after the new IEBC chairman, Erastus Ethekon, pledged loyalty to Kenyans.
Source: Twitter
He committed to the country that he would preside over a free and credible general election in 2027.
Seeking to clear doubts on the credibility of the commission, Ethekon said that his team would be driven by the aspirations of Kenyans who would make their statement through the ballot.
He promised to protect the will of the citizenry expressed through the vote.
Ethekon, however, appreciated that such an undertaking would not succeed without the support of the public.
He called on Kenyans to offer the necessary support for the commission to realise its mandate.
Ethekon and his team were sworn in on July 11 by Chief Justice Martha Koome.
The seven-member team will be on the commission for six years.
Besides Ethekon, others are Fahima Araphat (vice chairperson), Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, and Francis Odhiambo Aduol.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
