Venezuelans Saga Messed Our KIEMS Kit Plan - IEBC

A collage of DCI boss George Kinoti and IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati.
A collage of DCI boss George Kinoti and IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati.
Kenyans.co.ke

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Tuesday, August 9, blamed the saga involving three Venezuelans over the botched backup plan it had for KIEMS kits.

Speaking during a media briefing at the Bomas of Kenya, IEBC CEO Hussein Marjan lamented that the confiscation of the stickers found in possession of the Venezuelans led to the grounding of kits in the commission's warehouse.

Consequently, the electoral body had to label the kits afresh causing a delay in the dispatch of some of the crucial gadgets.

An image of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Marjan Hussein
An image of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Marjan Hussein
File

"We had a challenge in logistics and it was brought about due to delays in dispatching them. As you remember, some of the kits were held in our warehouse because of the issue of the stickers. That might have contributed to that," Marjan explained.

Commission CEO further noted that the situation further caused a mix-up in backing up voters' data, which is stored in memory cards unique to each device.

"We deployed the printed register because when the backup kits were tested, there was a challenge.

"Remember we said that for one to duplicate the SD cards, you will have to pick biometrics who a whole region but biographics for the whole country, so if you take it to a different place, that machine will not work in that specific area," the IEBC CEO explained.

Nonetheless, Marjan revealed that the backup kits had been airlifted to some of the affected areas, adding that voters in the polling stations would be allowed more time to exercise their civic duty.

Officers on July 21 arrested Jose Gregorio Camargo Castellanos at the JKIA shortly after his arrival and was found to be in possession of 17 rolls of stickers believed to be election material.

Following his arrest, two other Venezuelans Joel Gustavo Rodriguez Garcia and Salvador Javier Sosa Suarez were arrested when they went to receive their compatriot.

The arrest of the three sparked a protracted tussle between IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati and the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) - George Kinoti, before the two emerged days later, announcing unprecedented truce.

Chebukati, in the presence of Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai announced that the matter had been amicably resolved.

The whereabouts of the three foreign nationals was never addressed as the Commission focused on final poll preparations.

f
The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Nairobi
File

 

  • .