The South Sudan National Election Commission (NEC) called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for a week-long benchmarking tour and peer exchange forum. The delegation arrived on Monday, February 17th to Friday, February 21st, 2025, at the Kenya School of Government, Lower Kabete Campus.
The workshop was openned by Felix Koskei, the Head of Public Service and Chief of Staff. In his opening remarks, Mr. Koskei underscored the exciting opportunity for knowledge exchange between IEBC and South Sudan's NEC creates. He stressed the importance of both entities learning from each other, given the constantly evolving political and technological landscapes that impact election management.
Welcoming the South Sudanese delegation, IEBC Commission Secretary/CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan emphasised the mutual and cordial relationship between the two sister election management bodies. He noted that this is the first Electoral Commission hosted by the IEBC in 2025 and reassured participants that the program's design is comprehensive and meticulous. According to Marjan, all topics were carefully selected, and facilitators were well-prepared to ensure that both Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) gain invaluable lessons for future implementation.
Prof. Abednegom Akok, Chairperson of South Sudan's NEC, expressed his gratitude to the Kenyan Government, the Kenya School of Government, and the IEBC for their hospitality and willingness to host the delegation and share their invaluable knowledge and experiences. He urged delegation members to remain attentive and fully engaged throughout the workshop.
Throughout the week, the delegation explored various thematic areas, including the electoral-legal framework, which forms the cornerstone of election management. They delved into the evolution of voter registration and the innovative strategies deployed in Kenya since independence. Additionally, the delegation was enlightened on the crucial role of technology in enhancing voter registration, candidate registration, voter identification, election results transmission, and the accreditation of various election stakeholders. A key takeaway was the understanding that while electoral technology is vital, its credibility must be built on the right foundation being the right specifications, proper training, deployment, and stakeholder engagement.
The South Sudan delegation also toured the IEBC Headquarters, the Commission warehouse, and the IEBC county office in Kiambu, to appreciate the devolved offices for efficient and seamless management of elections at different levels.
Participants were awarded certificates after successfully completing the week-long learning tour.