ECK
written by jj , April 30, 2008

ECK is ok very few MPs especially in rift valley rejected their results.

...
written by manta ray , April 30, 2008

The ECK as presently constituted CAN run the by-elections especially considering that none of the current MPs have objected to having been declared winners by the very same ECK. It therefore makes no sense for MPs to shout from the rooftops about the partiality or otherwise of the ECK when they benefited from the same. Why shouldn't new MPs enjoy the same "courtesy"?
Where are the busybody NGOs to point out to the MPs that they are being hypocritical? Oops! Silly me. Since when were NGO talking heads ever elected or accountable?

...
written by a guest , April 30, 2008

absolutely not. Kivuitu is the most incompetent person to ever hold a position of influence in recent memory. I am not just judging him but what others say about him, his own conduct during the election 07 debacle was alarmingly wanting.

You are Kidding right?
written by isindu mwangaza , April 30, 2008

It matters not how aligned allegiances play out, fact is the ECK, not the press nor party affiliates, bungled their constitutional mandate. Kivuitu and crew can thumb their nose at this fact but history will have the last laugh, as it does, always.

On ECK
written by Apon , April 30, 2008

ECk as an institution is needed for future elections however not with the likes of kivuitu and Co.

yes and no
written by jayawardene , May 01, 2008

The question in our minds should be whether our leaders can come out and guarantee:

1. An independent electoral commission

2. That the wishes of the people be respected whatever the outcome of any election.

3. To use legislative powers to censure and disqualify anyone who uses intimidating or inflammatory speech during election campaigns. Refusal to accept results prior to an election taking place should be sufficient grounds for disqualification.

The chances of any of the above conditions being met before all my hair goes grey are as remote as that place formerly known as planet pluto. We are just not organised for elections in a multi-party setting. The good people of Nigeria or Zimbabwe could say much the same.

first things first
written by observer , May 01, 2008

I think this is a bigger issue than the ECK; the real issue in my opinion is the lack of independence and general competency of government institutions in Kenya. Until these two issues are resolved the ECK, which is a microcosm of the larger Kenyan society, infected with rampant corruption and virulent tribalism.

who's kiddingwho?
written by boobo , May 07, 2008

What is all this fuss about ECK? If I remember well, all MPs were declared winners by ECK, if ECK is guilty then, we should not have any of those MPs in parliament. The MPs should be busy drafting the neccesary bills to counter similar incidents like what happened in December for the future.

scapegoating
written by Amir Ibrahim , May 07, 2008

Samuel Kivuitu and the ECK are very easy scapegoats, especially for theballot-stuffing ODM. Takes all the attention away, as usual the brainless media and civil society play along. Oh, how good things would have been had Kivuitu not spoiled the party.

By all accounts the ODM stole at least 500,000 votes. I am not here arguing that the PNU side were right to steal votes but considering how late in the day they did it, I want to suggest they are less culpable, the premeditation is much diminished.

What we have instead is a race to catch-up, in the full knowledge that facts would be established on the ground. Question, what would you do if you were in Kibaki's shoes and it became obvious to you that your opponent had stolen 500,000 votes? What exactly would you do? Smile and give up?

Kibaki and Kivuitu by all accounts seems to have been intent on running a proper electin, and then the ODM thieves struck.