We are actually in a crisis because there is no IEBC without the commission.
The secretariat is composed of errand boys and girls who are just told to do this and that but they have no authority, and therefore they cannot make major decisions.
What the secretariat can do is, maybe, come up with a [delimitation] work plan detailing how everything is supposed to be done, what is required to be undertaken and stakeholders to engage.
They must also have picked up issues that were raised in the last delimitation process.
Basically, the secretariat cannot move now because everything they do must be approved by the commission.
This also includes the budget for this exercise.
After the approval, they can only start the process with the supervision of the commission. So, it's already a crisis.
It's a very serious crisis because we have a constitutionally set timeline.
My worry is that with the remaining months, even if the commissioners were to come in place today, they will not be exhaustive in terms of this process.
Remember it is a process which requires they look at the previous reports. There were serious concerns.
In fact, some of the constituencies which were supposed to be scrapped were spared because within the timeline they could not expedite, yet that exercise had its timelines well set out.
Now, with about just seven months it is very difficult for a new commission to come in, go around the country and address all those issues and other concerns, especially new disputes that may arise.
They must go out there and get the views of Kenyans. They will make their proposals, but their proposals must be interactive.
And with that, there will definitely be disputes. And disputes take at least one year to resolve.
I feel there will have to be guidance from the Supreme Court in terms of whether they can extend deadlines. It should be some sort of advisory.
Parliament may also need to be involved to look at this as a special case and make some legal amendments to allow the process to proceed.
ELOG national coordinator spoke to the Star
