European Union Observer Mission Calls for Probe on IEBC Officials

The European Union Observer Mission has called for investigation and prosecution of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials responsible for the bungled August 8th General Election.

In its interim statement issued on Thursday, the Observer group demanded that top IEBC officials involved in election offences be held accountable for their actions.

The EU mission further made number of recommendations that it believes will promote accountability and transparency in the repeat presidential election scheduled for October 17th.

The mission urged “thorough investigations of alleged electoral offences in order to promote prosecutions where warranted, including of IEBC staff.”

“There have to date not been any investigations against senior public officers who have reportedly breached the law. Some stakeholders have questioned the ability of the ODPP to challenge more senior leaders,” read the statement by Marietje Schaake, Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission.

“Fast, comprehensive and effective investigations are needed so that there is individual accountability for actions taken,” it added.

The statement comes at a time when the opposition National Super Alliance (Nasa) continue to mount pressure on IEBC calling for the prosecution of top IEBC officials they allege committed election offences in last month's poll that has since bren nullified by the Supreme Court.

IEBC chief Executive Officer Ezra Chiloba, Deputy CEO Betty Nyabuto-Sungura, Director of Elections Immaculate Kassait, ICT head James Muhati and head of legal Services Praxedes Tororey are some of top electoral commission officials want fired and charged.

The EU mission further castigated both Nasa and Jubilee for their constant attacks on independent institutions.

“Since the election, Nasa and Jubilee have at times been undermining the IEBC and the judiciary respectively, singling out a statement by the former to the effect that IEBC had been taken over by criminals,".

The mission also criticised President Uhuru's rant on Supreme Court judges following the annulment of his election.

The EU mission urged the electoral commission to develop and communicate more detailed procedures for the counting, tallying, transmission and transparency of results and also recommended for tests of procedures and technology as well as upgrade on results transmission software and network coverage.

It also urged IEBC to allow party agents and the media to comprehensively scrutinise constituency tallying centres.

“The re-run offers a key opportunity for Kenya to create a more robust democracy and rule of law,” the observers said.

“But this process is not automatic, requires hard work, and the rebuilding of trust. The recommended reforms should help the IEBC and others to rebuild the confidence of Kenyans in their elections.”