Leader of Majority Aden Duale. [Photo/Kenya Today]
The Leader of Majority in Parliament Aden Duale wants the IEBC to tell Kenyans how it will manage certain situations in the event they happen during the upcoming General Election slated for August 8.
However, Duale hailed the commission for some of the milestones it has made in readiness for the polls.
Among these include the listing of voters, the completion of the verification of the voter register, printing of ballot papers (except for presidential race), and delivery of the technology kits to be used.
“Having the gadgets in the country at least a month to the election is a critical score for the Wafula Chebukati-led IEBC. The issue of supply and delivery of election kits was a thorn in the flesh of the former IEBC and remained a major impediment in achieving the required level of preparedness for the 2013 General Election, when the kits were delivered just two days to D-Day,” Duale added.
In an opinion piece published in the Star Monday, he was, however, quick to note that there are issues the commission must explain to Kenyans further.
Of key concerns, Duale wants IEBC to state if it’s prepared in the event the electronic gadgets fail as they did during the 2013 polls.
“The commission must come out clear on what mechanisms are in place to guarantee seamless transmission of election results should the Results Transmission System fail,” added Duale.
The Garissa Township MP said the commission must also live up to the letter and spirit of the Constitution.
“They must deliver to the people of Kenya ballot papers and election materials and that the election must take place on August 8, 2017,” said Duale.
The lawmaker said the electoral body must tell Kenyans how it will handle a case where a polling station receives the wrong polling materials.
“Are they prepared in case the political class unleash violence and disrupt voting on Election Day? They must tell Kenyans how prepared they are –together with the security agencies – in the event al Shabaab strikes to disrupt the election in the volatile Northeastern and Coast regions,” the MP said.
“Is the IEBC prepared if the opposition announce and declared their results based on the tallying centre they are putting up?We are hearing the Commission is disunited, that one or two commissioners have said that if he/she disagrees with colleagues the next morning she/he will take a flight to America. Are they prepared for such scenarios?” he concluded.