Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officially opened the national voter register for scrutiny by members of the public on Thursday morning.
The independent body provided an SMS code 70000 through which the electorate can confirm their registration details by simply sending their national identification numbers for Sh7 per SMS.
Kenyans were, however, angered by reports that the SMS code generated voter details of identification numbers that don't exist.
For instance, one concerned citizen claims to have sent a message with the digits "66" which is six numbers less than the usual eight that make up an ID number.
Shockingly, IEBC sent back an SMS indicating that a voter by the name "Kj Mj Fd" was registered to vote at a polling station in Kajiado South constituency.
Here is a screenshot of the message.
[caption caption="Screenshot of SMS sent to the 70000 IEBC voter registration confirmation code"]
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The irregularity was experienced rampantly as indicated by more screenshots shared by Kenyans who sent incomplete ID numbers and still got details of registered voters.
Here are some of the reactions shared by Kenyans.
This now alarming seems like there's nothing like integrity @IEBCKenya what is happening??
— Bobby Vj (@BobbyVjoe) June 29, 2017
My paps died 4yrs ago & it's well documented at the Reg. of B&D..but his name is still in the voters register like an audit didn't happen..
— Timothy Marwa (@tymarwa) June 29, 2017
Someone is registered with ID number 0 but with my ID number it tells me no records found. @IEBCKenya What games are this?? https://t.co/I8KSkQT4We
— Tony Watima (@Watimz) June 29, 2017
Brilliant investigation. IEBC imenaswa
— (@kissykennysmatt) June 29, 2017
My dad and step mum are both dead but they are still in the IEBC register how now?
— Welldonny Nyangenya (@WNYANGENYA) June 29, 2017
Is this what was audited by KPMG? You'll be surprised by @IEBCKenya explanation of all these. I'm sure Chebukati is drafting something
— His Excellency Rais (@raiswakesho) June 29, 2017
When Kenyans.co.ke sent a message with an invalid ID number, IEBC seemed to have fixed the error as the message that was received back stated: "Kindly reply with a valid ID/Passport number."
