The Electoral Commission of Kenya yesterday came under fierce criticism for allegedly mismanaging taxpayers money. Chairman of the Independent Review Commission investigating last year’s election, Justice Johann Kriegler questioned the rationale of sending some eight commissioners to oversee printing of ballot papers in the UK.
Mr Justice Kriegler also criticised the move by ECK to take its 22 commissioners, all heads of departments and some district election coordinators to a retreat at Sun N Sand Resort in Mombasa, using public Money. He also asked ECK commissioner Jack Twnwa why the 210 laptops they purchased worth USD1.4. million (Sh93 million) were not used during the polls.
State resources
The commission chair noted that 51 re-turning officers had never used computers before and ECK made no steps to train them on how to use them. He accused Mr Tumwa and fellow aim-missioners of lacking courage to postpone the elections yet it was clear that the atmosphere was charged: ” You knew of vote-buying, you knew of intimidation, you were aware of use of state resources. What did you do? Instead you proceeded and ran an election that led to the deaths of a thousand-plus people. Wasn’t it a tragic error, Mr Tuniwa?” “My lord I don’t know,” he replied. However, Mr Ihmwa said the option of postponing the elections would have been difficult fur ECK. “Am I right to suggest that leadership was lacking at the ECK?” Posed Mr Justice Kriegler. “My Lord you would be asking me to be a judge in my own court,” he answered. Mr Justice ‘Kriegler went on: “I know what we need. We should have a commission that is prepared from day one and which should not only have the integrity but also the courage to tell politicians to play by the rules or say 1 am not ready to be your referee ! The hearing was adjourned to Monday.
