KAIKAI KICKER: IEBC CEO Marjan should worry about two things only; simple questions and manner of exit
On my Kicker
tonight, I congratulate the newly appointed IEBC Chief Executive Officer Marjan
Hussein Marjan on his appointment and offer some totally unsolicited advice to
the IEBC boss.
And my
advice will not be as high minded as to attempt complex issues like claims by
politicians that there are plans to rig the elections in August. I won’t go
there. My advice to CEO Marjan is worry about two things only. One, your manner
of exit from the IEBC and two, simple questions about the job you will perform
in August.
Starting
with the manner of exit from IEBC; Marjan should hope and aim to serve his full
term and retire when the time comes. But he should be aware that two of his
predecessors left Anniversary Towers prematurely and in disgrace, under a cloud
of controversy. There was retired Major
Oswago who headed the IEBC secretariat through the 2013 election. He was kicked
out and charged in court over bribery allegations surrounding the tender for
printing ballot papers. It was a scandal called the Chicken Gate scandal for
which the United Kingdom sent to jail the bribe givers - two directors of the Smith and Ouzman Company
that won the tender. Oswago is still battling his case as Kenyan courts try to
establish whether there were receivers of the bribe or ‘no one would ever know’,
as Kriegler would say.
Then there
was Ezra Chiloba, the CEO that oversaw the nullified 2017 presidential
elections. He was kicked out screaming ‘witch-hunt’ after a protracted battle
with the controversy ridden commission. And now, it is Marjan’s turn in the hot
seat. That reminder again; think about your manner of exit from the IEBC.
My next
piece of advice; be mindful of the simple questions. You see, when you oversee
the election in August, someone somewhere may ask you very simple yet not so
simple questions. First, you may be asked about election results. So think
about those figures and don’t call them election results unless you know for
sure they are. Then you also need to check those simple things that constitute
your tools of trade. Be sure you know the features of the ballot paper because
somebody may just ask you.
Note the key
words there; abundance of caution! Yes, caution. Very key. And you had better
be even more cautious about the process in the polling station because we
realize some tricky questions may just be asked.
There you go
Marjan. Be careful about those simple questions. Then again, don’t forget the
other question – how do you intend to exit the IEBC? Think about those two
issues.
And that is
my kicker!
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