The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has allowed the use of manual registers in Kakamega and Makueni counties where the Kenya Integrated Election Management System-KIEMS kits failed.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday, August 9, IEBC Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera noted that the regions had experienced a malfunction of KIEMS kits and they had approved the use of the manual voters register in select areas of Makueni and Kakamega counties.
She revealed that there were 84 polling stations in Kibwezi constituency and 54 polling stations in Malava, Matungu, Mumias East and Mumias West constituencies that were affected by the KIEMS kits' malfunction.
“Our ICT officers are on the ground, and when they are called upon in the polling station, they ascertain its failure of the kit and not any other failure,” Cherera stated.
“In this case, it has been ascertained as the commissioners have written emails and therefore have been given the leeway to use manual register,” she added.
Commissioner Justus Nyangaya on his part noted that IEBC had allocated 6 kits to serve as a backup in every ward. Some have failed which has stalled the election exercise.
“What we have received is 200 failures of KIEMS kit of 46,229. It’s not widespread; technology does break down, and when they do, we have a mechanism to rectify it. That’s normal, and there is nothing ideal out of it,” Nyangaya stated.
He further noted that the IEBC had anticipated the hitch, but maintained that this does not imply the errors are widespread.
Early in the day, Roots Party Presidential contender Prof George Wajackoyah was among voters who were forced to wait after KIEMs kits at Indangalasia Primary School in his Matungu backyard, Kakamega county failed.
Addressing the press, the visibly angry Wajackoyah stated that he was disappointed and criticised IEBC for the failure.
“I am a disappointed man because all my competitors have voted; I am told Raila voted, Mwaure has already voted. I just spoke with him to congratulate him, and Ruto has voted. So why only me? Why Kakamega County? Why didn't they test the kits?” Wajackoyah posed.
Still in Kakamega county, reports indicated that voters at Bulimbo Primary polling station in Matungu, went home disappointed over the failure to vote after the KIEMS kit failure.
