Elections Observation Group (ELOG) has distanced itself from a viral video of a person alleging to have hacked the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) system and altered the presidential results.
In a public notice dated Thursday, August 25, the non-profit group maintained that the person recorded in the video donning its branded merchandise is neither a member nor an accredited election observer.
The notice signed by ELOG steering committee chairperson, Anne Ireri, added that the branded jackets were only issued to individuals trained and accredited by the organisation.
"One of the interlocutors in the video is adorning a branded ELOG observer jacket. ELOG wishes to clarify that the said individual is neither a member of ELOG nor an accredited ELOG observer," the statement read in part.
"ELOG issued the jackets to a special category of trained and accredited independent and non-partisan roving observers drawn from its leadership (i.e. the Steering Committee and the Advisory Peace Panel), its thematic members and partners, and senior staff."
The organisation, however, assured the public that it had launched investigations to ascertain how the person recorded in the video acquired its branded jacket.
The video started making rounds after the Supreme Court began receiving petitions challenging IEBC's decision to declare William Ruto as the president-elect.
In the viral video, a person was captured using a computer while alleging that the IEBC portal was infiltrated in some areas.
Its source and origin were not immediately established despite raising concerns from Kenyans. The electoral Commission and other investigative bodies have not yet issued statements on the confession.
ELOG had earlier issued a statement differing with the four dissenting commissioners led by IEBC vice chairperson Juliana Cherera who termed the presidential election results opaque.
The organisation argued that postponement of the announcement of the presidential election results would have plunged the country into chaos.
Additionally, it added that the highest court in the country would address issues raised by the dissenting commissioners.
On the petitions already filed, the Apex Court, led by Chief Justice Martha Koome, is set to deliver a judgement on the petitions challenging Ruto's win by Monday, September 5.
Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga's petition accused IEBC chairperson, Wafula Chebukati, of committing an electoral offence. He prayed that the court declares him the president-elect should it find that he had won the polls.
