The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Wednesday, March 15, clarified that laptops and Electoral Management Systems(KIEMS) kits reported to have been stolen from its warehouse were not electronic voter identification documents.
In a statement, the commission stated that the lost devices were Electronic Voter Identification Devices(EVID) that were procured in 2012 for use in the 2013 General Elections
Moreover, the Commission added that EVID were not used in the August 2022 elections.
“The Commission would like to clarify the following about the EVID laptops and BVR kits referred to in the Parliamentary Accounts Committee’s report for 2020/2021.
“These identification devices were not used in the 2017 and 2022 general elections, instead the Commission used the Kenya Integrated Electoral Management Systems(KIEMS) kits,” the statement read in part.
Additionally, IEBC noted that EVIDs had since become obsolete and were not supported by both its manufacturers or vendors.
“EVIDs have become obsolete and their netbook value is zero,” added the commission.
It explained that the devices were attracting costs in form of storage because they could not be used adding that they had been lined up for disposal.
“After following due process as guided by the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act 2015 and its attendant regulations, they will be disposed of,” IEBC stated.
Addressing concerns about data security, IEBC stated that the procured BVR kits contained raw registration data that had not been processed for inclusion.
The commissioner explained that the information was additionally encrypted to ensure minimal risk, integrity and confidentiality.
“The commission has fully transited to the use of KIEMS technology in the future registration process and therefore the lost kits will not interfere with the credibility of the election and its related processes,” noted the statement.
Earlier on Monday, March 13, while appearing before the National Assembly Public Accounts Committee (PAC), IEBC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hussein Marjan was grilled over the disappearance of the key equipment.
Marjan admitted that the BVR kits were indeed lost adding that some of the cases were still ongoing.
The laptops were reportedly lost in a warehouse in Kisumu and had contained important election data.
