Former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Deputy CEO Betty Nyabuto-Sungura revealed why the commission failed to open its servers in the aftermath of the 2022 general elections.
At the height of political tensions after the last general elections, pressure was piled on the commission to exhibit transparency by allowing the public to access the provisional and final results. This did not happen, and ODM party leader Raila Odinga lost out to William Ruto, albeit controversially.
While speaking during the ongoing IEBC reconstitution interviews, Nyabuto was quizzed on some of IEBC's inconsistencies during her tenure as deputy CEO, including why the servers were closed to the public.
Nyabuto was also asked to distinguish between a portal, where the public was given access to, and the servers. According to the former Deputy CEO, the two were not separate entities, despite public opinion.
She claimed that the server was only protected due to its sensitivity, adding that giving it access to anyone would have further eroded trust in the electoral process.
"The server is something that is protected in a way because of its sensitivity, but that does not mean it's inaccessible," she observed.
"I wouldn't agree with those saying servers and the portal are different because that portal reflects exactly what is on the server," she said.
Further, Nyabuto claimed that in 2022, political parties had been given access to servers, but the Supreme Court's 2022 judgment dismissing petitioners’ claims that the servers contained evidence of electoral malpractice restricted broader access.
She reiterated that allowing unrestricted access would not only have led to further electoral controversy but also led to different interpretations of data from the portal and the servers, fuelling further disputes.
Following her revelation, the former deputy CEO, who is seeking to become one of the IEBC commissioners, was challenged to explain how the commission would ensure that political stakeholders are content before, during, and after elections.
She came up with a radical solution, suggesting the establishment of a multi-stakeholder forum to bring together candidates, the Registrar of Political Parties, and other key players to review the electoral process, including the results, transmission pathways, and server infrastructure.
Her sentiments came a week after Kakai Kissinger, an IEBC chairperson candidate, proposed the use of technology in party nominations and the next general elections.
Speaking before the IEBC Selection Panel led by Nelson Makanda, the electoral boss hopeful told the panellists that the inclusion of AI in elections would greatly enhance the electioneering process.
