Former Nairobi CEC Mohamed Dagane urges simplification of IEBC structure

Former Nairobi County Executive, Mohamed Dagane, has said the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) must be structured in the simplest way possible to enhance public trust.

On the fifteenth day of the interviews, Dagane told the panel led by Dr Nelson Makanda that the IEBC must communicate efficiently and robustly with all stakeholders, while providing timely updates to the public on its processes and activities.

He noted that his background in communications would be instrumental in engaging the public through various platforms and educating them on their roles in the electoral process, while also reaching wider audiences with best practices for the Commission.

“We have to be open with all stakeholders to steer the IEBC and achieve its mandate. We must be able to communicate robustly with the public, ensure they are informed about their rights and how to participate. It is important to keep the IEBC simple,” he said.

Dagane, reflecting on his five-year tenure with Nairobi County – a dynamic environment – noted that it involved high levels of engagement with members of the County Assembly, contractors, civil society and other stakeholders, each with their own interests.

He added that whether in a high-pressure setting such as a county or the IEBC, the most critical factor was to adhere to the law and guiding principles. This, he said, enabled him to resist pressure and influence.

“You’ll always find people approaching you with vested interests. I’ve been very straightforward in telling them to operate within the law. My role focused on strategy formulation, and I stood my ground where necessary,” he stated.

Another candidate, Melisa Ng’ania, told the panel that although one cannot control how others perceive them, it is crucial to uphold integrity and professionalism, even under pressure.

Ng’ania, an advocate and board member at Financial Inclusion and Micro-Cap Holdings Limited, stressed that impartiality remains one of her key principles, which she intends to uphold if appointed to the Commission.

“I have been tested. Anyone who tries to make me act unethically does not mean well. Those who want you to succeed will support and encourage you. Even if I were fired today, someone else might recognise my integrity tomorrow,” she said.

She cited several ways voters can be disenfranchised, such as lacking crucial identification documents to register, the Commission failing to adhere to set timelines, or the unavailability of sufficient registration points.

Ng’ania also pointed out the need to address voter apathy, particularly among the youth.

“I’ve worked with young people, and it’s important to tailor messages to your audience,” she said.

Mary Njeri Mburu, a Non-Executive Director at Family Bank Limited, told the panel that rigorous pre-election technology checks are essential to instil public confidence in the results.

She further recommended an independent audit of the electoral technology, stating that such verification would reinforce the credibility of the IEBC and public confidence in transmitted results.

“We must give Kenyans a credible IEBC they can trust. They need to know the technology was properly audited from the beginning,” Njeri said.

Njeri, who has worked in conflict-affected countries such as Haiti, Afghanistan, and Liberia, said she is fully prepared for the role, having witnessed first-hand the consequences of democracy’s absence.

“I want this job because it is not tougher than Afghanistan, Haiti, or Liberia. I have seen what a country without democracy or rule of law can become. We must make the IEBC credible, consult widely, and convince Kenyans that we will deliver fair results,” she said.

Other candidates who appeared before the panel included Mary Karen Chesang and Mohamed Abdullahi Abdi.

At least 45 candidates are scheduled to appear before the panel over the next two weeks, with the reconstitution process now halfway through.

As of last Friday, 74 candidates had been interviewed – 11 for the position of Chairperson and 63 for Commissioner the roles. Three candidates shortlisted for the Commissioner position have withdrawn, citing personal reasons.

The nine-member panel began interviews on 27 March and is expected to conclude the process by 25 April.

After the interviews, the panel will submit two nominees for the Chairperson position and nine for the member positions to the President, who will appoint one Chairperson and six members to the Commission.