SPEECH DELIVERED AT THE KENYA MOVEMENT OF
CATHOLIC PROFESSIONALS (KMCP) ANNUAL DINNER ON THE
8TH DECEMBER, 2012
BY IEBC COMMISSIONER BWIRE ALBERT
Ladies and gentlemen, The Chairperson of IEBC Ahmed Isaac Hassan is not with
us today because he is the Head of the EISA delegation observing General
Elections in Ghana.
As you may be aware, Ghana is using the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR)
system that IEBC is currently implementing. It is therefore important that we draw
lessons from Ghana before our General Election in March 2013.
Ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure and joy to be here with you this
evening at this special dinner dubbed “engaging Christian professionals in the
constitution implementation and participation in electoral process.”
We have a mandate Ladies and Gentlemen to respect, uphold and defend the
Constitution at the various levels that we serve in. Allow me to begin and to reflect
in the words and thoughts of his Eminence who observed that For Christian
professionals to be effective, there is need to continue walking with the Church in
the spirit of solidarity.
We may not always reach consensus on certain doctrinal aspects of our faith.
However, on matters of justice and social welfare of the people, we have the same
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approach. I appreciate that you are already focusing on issues that affect the
Christian faithful and Kenyans in general.
Ladies and Gentlemen, let us look at important dates and numbers.
Voter Registration commenced:
19th November 2012 and ends on 18th December 2012. No extension.
General Elections date:
4th March 2013
Six elective positions in a single day as follows:
1
2
3
4
5
6
President
Senator
Member of National Assembly (constituencies)
Women Members of National Assembly (Counties)
County Governor
Members of County Assembly
Total
1
47
290
47
47
1,450
1,882
The numbers do not include nominated members.
Estimated number of adults by 2012 (according to 2009 census) .... 22.5 million
( whether all of them have National Identity Cards or not is another issue)
IEBC target number of voters (80% of 22.5 million) ..................... 18 million.
Number that IEBC had estimated each BVR could register …….. 50 people
Therefore 50 x 30 x 15,000 kits = 22.5 million
Example actual number BVR kits have registered:
Kanyuambora Primary School - 3/12/2012 - Single kit single day registered 175
voters
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Kanyuambora Primary School -4/12/2012 - single kit single day registered 170
voters.
As at 3rd December 2012 registered voters ………………………….6,548,439
Number of BVR Kits ………………………………………………..
15,000
Average number over 15 days …………………………….…….… 437 voters
Average daily number of voters registered per Kit …………………..29 voters
Effectively the BVR kits have been idle for the last 15 days.
Fellow Kenyans these are historic times in many ways:
1. Usher in the 4th President of the Republic of Kenya
2. First elections under a new constitution
3. First elections with 6 elective positions
4. Migration from manual voter registration to electronic voter registration.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the price of democracy. Many elective positions to
demystify leadership in the new Constitutional dispensation. It is incumbent upon
all of us to guard the constitution jealously. It is not the singular responsibility of
the Constitution
Oversight
Committee or Constitutional
Implementation
Committee to diligently ensure fidelity to the spirit of the constitution. It is our
collective responsibility.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is the price of democracy and good leadership. A total
of 15000 BVR kits whose total cost to the country is Kes 7.2 billion. The price of
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fighting dishonesty in electoral practice in a country that is over 85% religious.
This is the price of ensuring the dead do not resurrect on 4th march 2013 to vote
then go back to their graves.
Ladies and Gentlemen, as Christian professionals, you need to remain vigilant
and speak out. You should set the pace for the Church on issues of the constitution
that are coming up. Nothing that impacts on Christian values in this country should
go out without your input.
Fellow Kenyans Cast against the road map to the General Election, I wish to
further address the following areas with regard to the role of the Christian
professionals in constitution implementation and participation in electoral process.
1. Voter Registration
Every qualified citizen has a right to be registered to vote; you have a duty to
ensure that you exercise the right with utmost integrity. Previously cases of double
registration have been reported and this contributed to what was witnessed in
2007/2008 post election violence. With BVR cases of double registration will be
history.
Ladies and Gentlemen get out there and register as voters to enable you elect
leaders that you want. You will only be part of the historic elections if you are a
registered voter. What type of leaders you want and how you will get them into
leadership is possible if you register as a voter.
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2. Voter Education
The church has a role to disseminate the right information to the public and to the
neighbours, to the people, the church works with and even the articles you author.
It is acknowledged over time that you are a master of the words you don't say and a
slave to the ones you do. You can in the same magnitude you can build this nation
or destroy it through the information you choose to give through the voter
education process.
3. Disputes resolutions
In the words of Carl Sandburgh;
“Anger is the most impotent of passions. It affects nothing it goes
about and hurts the one who is possessed by it more than the one
against whom it is directed.”
We all remember painfully the post poll violence of 2007; we have a duty ladies
and gentlemen not only to wait until the disputes occur, but to address the red
flags. Its starts with you, yes you. Man has never been an island to leave alone we
need each other; we have a nation to build.
4. Voting
Voting is the most precious right of every citizen, and we have a moral obligation
to ensure the integrity of our voting process.
It’s your role and right to ensure that you are registered as a voter, and to ensure to
get the right people for the Job (Article 73).
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Leadership and Integrity Act 2012
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s your role to vet your leaders against the provisions of
the Constitution and those of the Act.
 What standards of leadership and integrity do we bequeath the Kenyan
people?
 Is an Economic saboteur the type of leader you want-serial loan defaulters?
 Leaders without certificate of good conduct;
 Ex-convicts;
 Leaders who have been disbarred by their professional bodies.
 What type of ethical standards do we stand for
 Can we stand the David Petraeus standards?
 What moral standing do we promote?
Where is the voice of Catholic professionals in Leadership and Integrity?
In conclusion fellow Kenyans, there is a great opportunity in our country for
providing leadership through intellectual and professional contributions of ideas
and strategy. The constitution based on ethics and accountability is a necessary
infrastructure for justice, peace and development.
Thank you and God Bless you
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