In my constitutional freedom of expression, the pull and push between Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission [IEBC] chairman Wafula Chebukati and Lordship Chief Justice Martha Koome at the Multi-Sectoral Consultative Forum on Election Preparedness and Technical Working Committee for Election Preparedness, was and is one of principles of management misunderstanding.
Having holding managerial position, I did a module in managerial where principles of management was one of elaborate topic. For that, let me just pick three principles; Unity of Command, Unity of Direction and Scalar Chain.
Unity of Command: This refers to chain of command, and issuing of orders and directives from top management to the lower class. In this case in my view, Chief Justice heads one of three arm that constitute Kenya government; the Judiciary, that why she chairs the Forum. Because Cabinet Secretaries Fred Matiang’i [Interior] and Joe Mucheru of ICT falls under Unit of Direction since they can take orders from the President Kenyatta, who doubles as head Executive the arm of government and the head of Kenya government as whole. While, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati who is under one of arm government falls in Scalar Chain since to procure his operational resources have to channel through a Executive members; Treasury Cabinet Secretary and Attorney General in that matter.
So, for Chebukati to pull out of the Multi-Sectoral Consultative Forum…and justified it by drafting the letter addressed to Interior Principal Secretary [PS] Karanja Kibichio, who is the implementer of policies in the Interior ministry headed by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, that reads: “In the meantime, the commission will execute its primary role in planning and putting in place measures and mechanism to ensure simple, accurate, secure accountable, impartial, efficient, credible and transparent election. However, in undertaking this constitutional mandate, the commission will continue to engage all relevant stakeholders in preparation and conduct of the upcoming polls,” depicts managerial principles disconnect.
Why do I conclude so, for Chebukati to write to PS Karanja Kibichio, who reports to Fred Matiang’i, and then gave copies to the head of bar Attorney-General Paul Kihara together with his lower cadres Solicitor General Kennedy Ogeto and Director of Public Prosecutions Haji at the same time. Portlay lack of trust to some stakeholders or unaware of planning chaos that can eminent from distorted principles of management. That why we have one Commander-in-Chief.
Postscript: As per constitution of Kenya, 2010, article 156 [3]; qualifications for Attorney-General are the same as for appointment to the office of Chief Justice, while for Director of Public Prosecutions are the same as for the appointment as a judge of the High Court thus positioning the AG as head of the Bar.