The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is facing fresh hurdles in the transmission of results less than four months before the country holds the August 9 General Election.
According to IEBC Commissioner Francis Wanderi the electoral agency is not well equipped for the electronic transmission of results.
Speaking on Monday, April 11, during a TV interview, Wanderi noted that slightly over 260 polling stations have not been fitted with 3G networks which is essential in the transmission of results after voting.
"As of 2017, over 10,000 polling stations did not have 3G network. The latest information we have from CA is that slightly more than 260 polling stations are not covered and the CA is working to make sure that they are covered with 3G network," Wanderi told Citizen TV.
The commissioner attributed the lack of 3G network to some cases of insecurity in some parts of the country. He however expressed confidence that IEBC will still forward the GPS location of the said stations to the Communications Authority (CA) for connection.
"The CA has promised we will get 3G network at all stations however we have a problem in certain security prone areas. Hopefully, all stations will be connected by August," Wanderi added.
Wanderi applauded CA led by Director General Ezra Chiloba for ensuring most polling stations were connected ahead of the polls. Owing to the efforts by CA, he noted that there is a slim chance that election results will be transmitted manually.
Echoing sentiments made by IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati, Wanderi insisted that the commission is ready to deliver free and fair elections in all elective positions.
"If you are not in the register you won’t be able to vote or be identified. From there the only other place technology is used is during the transmission and here the election is concluded at the polling station. A form will be signed by the agents and once agents have signed the image of that form will be taken and transmitted.
After that has been done the returning officers at the constituency polling stations will deliver the original to the national polling centre. So there is no room for manipulation cause once you send the image there is no way you can interfere with that. Our systems do not allow that.”
The 2017 elections results were contested by some sections of the political divide led by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party Raila Odinga.
Raila specifically called out IEBC over results transmission demanding the opening of the server leading to the annulment of the Presidential results.
