There is suddenly a lot of noise coming from politicians over the shortlist of candidates for jobs in the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Most of the noise is negative, choreographed and coming from one side of the Grand Coalition Government. The politicians are claiming that Prime Minister Raila Odinga is using the IEBC to pre-rig (if there is any such word) the next general election. They say he has stacked the IEBC Selection Panel with his cronies, and the latter have eliminated qualified candidates and inserted people deemed to be "friendly" to the Prime Minister.

They have not offered a single iota of evidence to back their claims, because their intention is simply to poison the minds of their constituency and create a moral high ground to foist their handpicked choices onto the new electoral body. Is it possible that they are actually the ones who want to ensure their cronies are placed in strategic positions to influence the outcome of the next polls?

In all fairness, both sides of the Grand Coalition Government got a chance to put a "friendly face" in the vetting team with three each from ODM and PNU. Parliament approved the vetting team without a whimper, so why cry foul this late? Is it a coincidence that some of the faces so closely associated with the tensions of the last general election are again involved?

Partisan teams?

It is wrong, despicable and utterly repugnant for them to seek to influence the process of picking commissioners and then turn around and try and paint the vetting team as partisan. The IEBC Selection Panel should go on with its work and pick the right commissioners for the job. As long as team carries out its work professionally and openly, it will be hard for any mud thrown its way to stick.