A plot by ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga and President William Ruto to trim the powers of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson has come to light, following a proposal embedded in the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report now before the Senate.
The legislative plan, as revealed by Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni during a live Citizen TV interview, seeks to decentralise the power to declare presidential results, a role currently reserved solely for the IEBC chairperson.
“We want to eliminate the idea that the chairman of the IEBC is the only one who can declare the presidency,” Omogeni said.
“We have proposed that this responsibility be given to the 290 returning officers at the constituency level.”
According to the senator, the move will not only increase transparency during presidential elections but also diffuse political tension that often surrounds the official declaration of the winner.
Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni during a past Senate debate. Photo: Okong’o Omogeni Source: Facebook
The bill proposes that each returning officer be given powers to count, tabulate, and announce presidential results in their respective constituencies. These figures would then be used to determine the national outcome—without waiting for a single, central declaration.
“The counting of the presidential election results will be the first task in all six elections,” Omogeni explained.
“When you finish as the returning officer, you make a declaration so that we have the results by 11 a.m.”
He also called on the IEBC to prioritise proper training of its election officials, warning that even the best technology cannot compensate for poorly prepared staff.
“The best way for IEBC to uphold the legal framework in place is to train its officers before the elections,” he noted.
To further boost credibility, Omogeni floated the idea of hiring international auditors to independently verify incoming results, similar to systems seen in South Africa.
“That’s just my opinion,” he clarified. “Ultimately, the IEBC must decide what works best for Kenya.”
The proposal remains under parliamentary review.