The drafters of the 2010 Constitution deliberately sought to shield key national institutions from abuse by an authoritarian Executive or Legislature.

These are institutions that are domiciled in Chapter 15, notably commissions and independent offices.  

According to Article 249, the objects of the commissions and the independent offices are to protect the sovereignty of the people, secure the observance by all State organs of democratic values and principles and promote constitutionalism.

The supreme law is also clear that the offices are independent and not subject to direction or control by any person or authority. 

Of the independent offices, the performance of the Controller of Budget and that of the Auditor General has been commendable.  

The chief auditor has dominated front pages with reports that expose avarice in government. Indeed, audit reports continue to indicate that State officials have deployed every single opportunity to steal public resources.  

The Controller of Budget’s regular reviews of fiscal discipline, especially in counties, paint a gloomy picture.  

But the same cannot be said about the performance of the Chapter 15 commissions, most of which have become dumping grounds for political rejects.

More often, the Presidency has tended to nominate political allies to the key commissions. 

But, all said and done, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission remains the most consequential of the Chapter 15 institutions. This is so because it is decidedly entrusted with a mandate that is central in the promotion of democracy.

The IEBC is the referee of political competition, as well as the transfer of power.  

More importantly, the conduct of the polls agency has far-reaching consequences on national security and stability.  

The pain and scars of the 2007/8 post-election violence linger to date. A last-minute split of the IEBC commissioners almost pushed the country to the edge.  

That is why Kenyans must exercise the highest level of vigilance on the ongoing recruitment of the national polls body.  

At the end of the day, the process should result in the hiring of competent and independent professionals with the maturity to do the right thing: promote democracy and constitutionalism.