MWALIMU ANDREW: Why I accepted a junior IEBC post

As expected, I caused a stir when I arrived. There were so many bicycles and all the trees were taken so I took long to get a spot to park my bicycle. I took my bag and walked to class. ILLUSTRATION| JOHN NYAGA

What you need to know:

  • “Yes, but you can call me Dre like everybody else does,” I stated. “And I am the one you have heard a lot about whose importance to the success of this election cannot be under-stated.”
  •  “I will go straight to the point,” she said. “We have a vacancy for a polling clerk as one did not turn up. We are thinking of you as a replacement.”
  • I was disappointed to hear that I was being considered for such a junior position. I held this position many years ago, when Moi was President.
  • “I wish to tell you that we have so many people who are interested in the position and if you do not want it, there are enough people to take it,” she said.

You will all remember how the IEBC, a few weeks ago, snubbed my application for the position of support elections trainer. Nor did they consider me for the position of presiding officer or even deputy presiding officer. And it had nothing to do with my qualifications. It was all politics and jealousy.

Mr Simba, who is contesting for MP and with whom I had some differences regarding his treatment of teachers, managed to convince the returning officer, who is his friend, and the IEBC team not to hire me. Secondly, given my great knowledge on electoral matters, most of the officers were worried that I would outshine them and that they would be asked by their bosses why I was not senior.

Upon hearing that I had not been considered, I was very upset and even considered to take legal action against IEBC. For without my involvement, the commission could not even claim to hold free and fair elections. However, upon further consultations, I decided to keep quiet.

“Do not force them to take you,” was the wise counsel from Fiolina, my wife. “Let things go wrong and that’s when they will regret not having employed you.” I agreed not to pursue the matter, even though that meant I would lose some cash.

That is why I was not surprised when I received a call from an IEBC official last week on Tuesday. They must have got into serious trouble and my help was urgently needed.

The IEBC had set up temporary offices at St Theresa’s Girls. And when I arrived I saw my peers, senior high school teachers, being taken through the presiding officer and deputy presiding officer training. I did not need a calculator to know that the IEBC was keen to have me join where I belong before they finished their training.

“Are you Mwalimu Andrew,” the lady asked me.

“Yes, but you can call me Dre like everybody else does,” I stated. “And I am the one you have heard a lot about whose importance to the success of this election cannot be under-stated.”

 “I will go straight to the point,” she said. “We have a vacancy for a polling clerk as one did not turn up. We are thinking of you as a replacement.”

I was disappointed to hear that I was being considered for such a junior position. I held this position many years ago, when Moi was President.

“I wish to tell you that we have so many people who are interested in the position and if you do not want it, there are enough people to take it,” she said.

“Give me a few minutes to consult,” I said.

I called my brother Pius, for wisdom on such matters.

“I wish they would give you a higher position,” he said.

“But wahenga walisema simba akikosa nyama hula nyasi,” he said, meaning that I should take up the role.

“Right now it’s not safe to hold a senior position in IEBC as we need you alive,” he said. I agreed with him.

“I am taking the job,” I told the lady, and as she handed over the forms to me, I added, “But only on one condition.”

She sat up, listening.

“That I be provided with 24-hour security,” I said. She was shocked.

“We are not so desperate. Take the job or leave it.” I signed the papers and was asked to come for training on Friday and Saturday.

Word that I had been appointed to a senior IEBC position was already in Mwisho wa Lami village when I returned. And I was congratulated everywhere I went.

In the evening, Hitler did not need much convincing to give me goods on credit. After all, I will soon be rich.

“But Dre kubali umepewa polling clerk, presiding officers are already in training,” said Titus, the owner and Managing Director of Busy Bee Academy.

“I am a presiding officer but I know most of the things so I did not need to go for training,” I said.

The good news had reached my wife as well, and although I arrived home late and drunk, she did not raise any issue. Instead, she congratulated me.

On Thursday night, I put aside the clothes I would wear on Friday. Latest, newest, long sleeved, four pocketed Kaunda suit, red socks and black sharp shooters. I also planned to dress down on Saturday with a similar suit, but with yellow socks and multicoloured Reebok shoes. I completed this with a bright leather bag. In the bag was my laptop, which I would carry just in case IEBC needs technical help.

As expected, I caused a stir when I arrived. There were so many bicycles and all the trees were taken so I took long to get a spot to park my bicycle. I took my bag and walked to class. I could see other polling clerks pointing at me. I am sure most of them believed I was the deputy returning officer, given how I was dressed.

 “We will go through theory training, then tomorrow we get into practicals,” said the trainer.

Everyone was given a booklet and pen. I took mine, put them in the bag.  I switched on my laptop to use to write notes. Mwisho wa Lami had never seen such. Even the trainer was  surprised. He kept passing by where I was and was happy to note I was taking notes.

There was tea break at 10am. I took three cups of tea. We continued after tea break. A few minutes later, my battery was drained and the laptop went off. I was not going to go to the level of my colleagues and use a pen and papers. So I pretended that I was typing. An hour to lunch, I could smell the aroma of beef and rice. As usual, my mind stopped concentrating and raced to the kitchen.

Before we broke for lunch, the trainer started asking some questions. Most were being answered correctly, but I was shocked when he picked on me and asked me the role of the six polling clerks. It was an easy question.

“The first is for an MCA, the second for MP, then the third, fourth, fifth and sixth are for woman rep, senator, governor and president respectively.” everyone laughed.

“Dre, I suspected you were not concentrating in class and was doing your own things on your old second-hand laptop,” he said. “Please do not come back with that mkebe for afternoon class.” It was clear he was jealous of me, he couldn’t afford a laptop. We broke for lunch. I was lucky I knew the cook and she organised for me three madiaba sodas.

To the shock of my trainer I was the star of practical sessions and helped everyone who was stuck.

Bring on elections 2017, we are ready!

 

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