The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Wednesday, March 1, received international accolades for its conduct during the August 2022 General Election.
The African Ombudsman and Mediators’ Association (AOMA) lauded IEBC for their professional handling of the polls, especially the Presidential Election in which William Ruto was declared the winner.
While presenting an award to the electoral commission, AOMA noted that IEBC conducted the election in a transparent, independent, and impartial manner, without favouring any side.
“The Mission observed that IEBC officials conducted their mandate in a transparent, independent, and impartial manner.
Accredited Agents and Observers were granted access to the polling stations and tallying centres,” the report stated.
The report that was handed over to the IEBC Chief Executive Officer Hussein Marjan by the Chairperson of Kenya’s Commission on Administrative Justice and the Secretary General of the AOMA Florence Kajuju observed that IEBC facilitated processes including the mandate of political party agents, media and observers.
In their observations, African Ombudsman and Mediators’ Association stated that IEBC conducted the exercise in line with the relevant electoral laws and the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation.
“The mission also observed that some candidates conceded defeat and sent congratulatory messages to their competitors after the declaration of the results.
"Some dissatisfied aspirants chose to use the constitutional post elections disputes mechanisms and appealed to their supporters to maintain peace,” the AOMA observer mission stated.
However, AOMA explained that there were instances when IEBC erred or delayed due to logistical flaws as a result of poor preparation.
Notably, AOMA pointed out the instance in which elections were postponed in Kakamega and Mombasa Counties, as well as MP elections in Kacheliba, Pokot South, Kitui Rural and Rongai constituencies.
“The Mission took cognizance of the best practices that AOMA member countries could borrow from the Kenya 2022 general election process including the use of KIEMS kit technology in voter identification; the preparedness of the IEBC despite handling a large number of voters and six elections running concurrently; as well as stakeholder engagements by the IEBC,” the association noted in its final verdict of the electoral process in Kenya.
IEBC was awarded despite Azimio La Umoja leader Raila Odinga claiming that the electoral commission manipulated results in Ruto's favour.
Raila maintained that he won the election, describing Ruto's government as illegitimate.
