Kenyatta University (KU) through its Directorate of Capacity Development and consultancy services (KU-CDCS) paid the Commission a courtesy call to share a partnership proposal, which intends to address informational gaps especially in the area of referendum.

The University proposed a collaborative undertaking with IEBC to build the technical skills stakeholders on the referendum process and its projected outcomes. The university felt the need to build the technical capacity of stakeholders so that they can sufficiently engage in matters referendum. The University further requested the drafting and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IEBC. Other Proposed areas of collaboration include capacity building for security organs and boundaries delimitation processes, training of electoral staff and stakeholders, building skills on knowledge management, collaborative development and management of an e-learning electoral platform.

The Commission has continuously partnered with like-minded organizations to enhance civic and democratic tenets in Kenya. A partnership with institutions of higher learning would enable the Commission to reach out to the untapped population of youth in those institutions through civil education. It was observed that the Commission, being a neutral arbiter in the referendum chain, shall not focus on a particular initiative but shall confine itself on the processes of conducting a referendum during trainings. Both institutions agreed on drafting and signing an MOU on other areas of collaboration including capacity building for security organs and boundaries delimitation processes, training of electoral staff and stakeholders, building skills on knowledge management and a collaborative development, management of an e-learning electoral platform.

The meeting was held on Monday 9th September, 2019 at the IEBC headquarters and attended by line Directors and Managers led by Obadiah Keitany who was the session chair sitting in for Ag. CS/CEO Marjan H. Marjan.