IEBC Finally Responds to NASA's Irreducible Minimums

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has finally responded to the irreducible minimums issued by the National Super Alliance (NASA).

In a detailed response published in the press on Sunday, the poll body agreed to give in to 20 of the 34 conditions given by the Opposition.

IEBC maintained that it would not sack CEO Ezra Chiloba and nine top managers as demanded by NASA.

[caption caption="IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba"][/caption]

The Commission further added that it would not send home commissioners Abdi Guliye and Molu Boya since they were not found to have been complicit in processing results and displaying false figures.

The poll body, however, agreed to have a NASA ICT team access the results transmission system, have results announced at the constituency level and send the scanned results.

IEBC insisted that it would stick to technology provider OT Morpho because it had not received any evidence of the firm mishandling the August elections.

“It will require at least six months to implement a new election system (procurement, supply, commission, implementation, testing, training and support).

"For this reason, the commission had to retain the services of OT Morpho,” read the response.

The electoral body also stated that it would not look for another firm to print ballot papers because Al Ghurair had printed the result forms as per IEBC’s specifications.

It further cited time constraints and the existing contract as reasons to stick to the Dubai-based printer.

The agency also rejected the demand that it provides the physical location of its servers as doing so would compromise their security.

It further added that it would not employ new returning officers due to limited time.

On forms 34B, which NASA wanted pre-printed with the candidates’ names and polling stations, IEBC concluded that it was impractical because there are 40,883 polling stations.

[caption caption="Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, Raila Odinga and Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi"][/caption]

NASA leaders on Sunday maintained that they would not take part in the election unless all their demands are met.

“We will not go back to polls with the same team at IEBC. We want a level playing field,” stated Odinga during a rally at Mama Ngina Grounds in Mombasa.