ELOG (Election Observation Group) is undertaking a citizen-led review of the 2022 electoral processes, aiming to complement their previous technical monitoring and observation work documented in reports like “From the Ballot to the Portal,” released in December of the previous year. Their consolidated 2022 observation report, titled “Catalyzing Change,” also highlighted key areas for electoral reforms.
According to a recent report by the group, one per cent of Kenyans lacked trust and confidence in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) during last year’s general elections. Furthermore, 30 per cent of Kenyans believed that the IEBC was under state capture, and there were concerns about the conduct of ballot staff during the general elections.
As a response, ELOG has put forward several proposals for electoral reforms. Among these proposals, they advocate for staggered elections to separate Presidential polls from other categories. Additionally, the group suggests extending the duration for hearing presidential petitions from the current 14 days to one month.
During a press briefing at Nairobi Safari Club on September 27, Antony Manyara, President of the Kenya Universities Students’ Organization (KUSO), emphasized the need for universities to have independent bodies, separate from administration, with the authority to conduct universal suffrage elections similar to national elections.
Therefore, the group has made proposals for the electoral body. Some of those proposals include:
- The elections should be staggered to delink Presidential polls from other categories.
- Further, the group also suggests the presidential petition should be heard for one month and not 14 days, as it is currently.
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The group’s findings also indicated regional disparities in trust levels towards the IEBC, with the Nyanza region recording the lowest trust and the Central region recording the highest.
Additionally, the group also noted that the Nyanza region records the lowest trust in IEBC, while the Central region records the highest level of trust.
ELOG’s National Coordinator, Mulle Musau, stressed the importance of enhancing transparency and accountability in voter registration to address irregularities. He also highlighted the need for a review of the winner-takes-all system, as the entire nation often holds its breath for a single announcement.
“We require enhanced transparency and accountability role, to curb irregularities during voter registration, which is one of the issues making it complicated. However, the bigger recommendation is that the electoral body needs to review the winner take hold system, because the entire nation waits for one announcement, before it can take a breathe, ” said ELOG’s National Coordinator Mulle Musau.
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