Dialogue the only way to resolve IEBC stalemate – Mudavadi

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as currently constituted cannot deliver fair, transparent and credible elections 2017, this is according to Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi.

Mudavadi said that a change of guard is overdue to avert chaos in the country.

In a statement to the media, Mudavadi said the IEBC has failed to exercise its broad mandate, and it’s unlikely its leadership can change its obsessively contemptuous mind-set.

“However, for close to year, we at ANC have called for dialogue over the review – not just reconstitution – of IEBC but the fault lines in the country’s electoral system. Our view has been there is more to reconstructing the incapacity, incompetence, lack of integrity and waning public confidence levels at IEBC than just a game of musical chairs where you replace individuals,” read the statement.

“Now that we seem to be agreed that dialogue is the solution, ANC calls for an all-inclusive broad-based representation in a national consultation by major stakeholders.  Elections are not just a preserve of political parties or some with representation in Parliament. Elections are about restating sovereignty of the people, legitimizing their delegated power and strengthening democratic governance every so often through periodical elections. Elections are therefore not an end in themselves.”

Mudavadi further stated there are pressing constitutional matters on representation as symbolized by the failed Gender Bill; the inadequacies in the Political Parties and Elections Acts; and matters essential to fair elections such as the Executive’s role in issuance of identity cards to Kenyans.

“ANC, therefore, believes we need to set the right mood for a plausible agenda on electoral review rather than present adversarial stop-gap measures prejudicial to the very dialogue we seek. The grandstanding being exhibited could turn out to be a coordinated attempt to subvert the holding of elections in 2017. We highly suspect that current procrastination is intended to postpone the 2017 elections,” he said.

Mudavadi also accused Parliament of weakening the constitution.

“It is also imperative to note that the 10^th Parliament short-changed Kenyans by weakening electoral laws. The current parliament has shown only appetite to better its predecessor by weakening the constitution.  Allowing self-interest to prevail over the will of Kenyans is to court disaster,” said the ANC leader.