The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has dismissed reports indicating that presidential results in the upcoming election would be released within hours.
The electoral commission on Thursday issued a statement stating: “We will do all we can to have results come fast, but we have not promised 'within hours' ".
"Even with technology, a careful count, tally and transmission take time. Relatively fewer votes get counted sooner. The law gives a maximum of 7 days,” the statement read.
We will do all we can to have results come fast, but we have not promised 'within hours'. Even with tech, a prudent count/tally takes time pic.twitter.com/Q59fk8iCbz
— IEBC (@IEBCKenya) July 27, 2017
On Wednesday, IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati held a press conference where he stated that the presidential ballots would be counted first before those of other positions in an expedited process that would ensure no rigging.
"That electronic transmission of election results in a prescribed form is a critical way of safeguarding the accuracy of the outcome. The role of the National Tallying Centre is to verify the winning candidate has obtained 50 per cent +1 votes and the candidate has obtained at least 25 per cent of votes in at least 24 counties," Chebukati stated.
In the new arrangement, Returning officers would transmit the results as scanned documents as opposed to physically travelling to the National tallying centre to physically submit results declaration forms.
The IEBC boss stated that the results received from returning officers will not be changed at the National Tallying Centre as instructed by the Court of Appeal.
Chebukati, who is the Country's Returning Officer, would then announce the winner of the Presidential elections after collating and cross-checking the results.
