Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Communication from the Chairperson on Political Parties Nominations

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is mandated by the Constitution under Article 88(1) and 88 (4) to regulate, monitor and settle disputes arising from political party primaries. 

To meet and effect this mandate with regard to the forthcoming party elections, the Commission intends (or has):

• Meet provincial/county Commissioners with their respective security committees to assess and obtain political and security situation within their jurisdictions.

• Establish Regional Monitoring teams headed by IEBC Commissioners.

• Establish monitoring teams at the constituency level that will be headed by Constituency Election Coordinators.

• Develop a monitoring tool that has been shared by all political parties.

Political parties on their part are expected to abide with all statutory legal and administrative requirements stipulated under the constitution, Elections Act, Elections Regulations and Political Parties. 

These include:

a) Submitting their elections nomination rules to the Commission and RPP (Section 27 of Elections Act 2011, Clause 19 of the Second Schedule to Political Parties)

b) Constitute an Elections board and have the names approved by the relevant party body

c) Prepare the procedure and activities for the elections both branch and National

d) Update and maintain proper and accurate party membership register/s and list of delegates

e) Prepare and submit the requisite notices to all the relevant bodies including IEBC, Ministry of Education and the General public

f) Identify appropriate and secure venues for nominations, compile and share the list of polling stations with relevant security and administrative organs of state

g) Appoint the electoral officials including the returning officers and presiding officers and to publicize the same well in advance for the general public notification

h) Put in place the necessary logistics including acquisition of strategic materials such as ballot papers , boxes and non-strategic materials and ensure their timely distribution

i) Ensure that on nomination day all materials and officials are in place well in time and in adequate proportions or quantities

j) Conduct party nomination elections and announce results in a transparent, peaceful and credible manner

k) Provide avenues and structures for adequate and credible dispute resolution. The law demands that the parties must be complicit to this provision before submitting their list of nominees to the Commission and that the list of party nominees cannot be altered once submitted. The law states clearly the date by which such list must be submitted to the Commission, that is, 18th January, 2013.

l) Filing returns of the party nominees with IEBC as provided under section 13 of the Elections Act. The role of IEBC is to interpret the will of the people in contested elections. This cannot be achieved unless political parties observe democratic principles and respect the will of the people as they conduct their primaries.

The Commission is determined to strictly adhere to the rule of law and deliver free, fair and credible general elections and it shall ensure that to the extent possible, the party primaries are conducted in an environment and manner that meets basic demands of the relevant laws and democratic precepts.

Signed

AHMED ISSACK HASSAN, EBS

CHAIRPERSON, IEBC

Your Vote, Your Future