How We Will Identify, Verify Voters – IEBC

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun, 30 – During a meeting with presidential candidates ahead of the August 9, 2022 polls, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has said that it will use the Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits to identify and verify voters.

IEBC Chief Executive Officer Marjan Hussein Marjan said that the poll body will use similar methods used during the 2017 elections.

The KIEMS kit will require voters to use their fingerprints or biometrics for identification during the process.

Alternatively, IEBC said that it will use the Alphanumeric search, which involves scanning the backside of the voter’s ID Card.

This will facilitate the retrieval of voters’ details from the KIEMS kit.

This means it will only be used if the biometric system does not work as intended.

“The retrieved information will then be used, by having the voters scan their fingers in again for a crosscheck of their details in the Kiems kit,” said Marjan. 

The poll body also said that it will use a replica of the voter’s details through the physical register in order to access personal data. This will however only be applicable if the two methods of identification fail.

Caution was meanwhile expressed that the physical register could be manipulated, particularly in remote areas where observers may not be present or even in a candidate’s political backyard.

“The officials in these areas may use the information in the register and key it on the Kiems kit to retrieve the voter’s information and use it to cast a vote. This is something that can be exploited and therefore it can lead to people winning illegitimately,” he said.

Similarly to what was used in 2017, once a voter is identified, a clerk at the polling station will issue them with a form, designated 32A after crossing their names out.

“When you identify voters through the electronic system, the system archives those who have voted…meaning if the said party was to turn up to cast a vote then they would not be in a position to. The system will automatically sound an alarm,” said Marjan. 

According to IEBC, so far an additional 14,100 KIMS kits were purchased bringing the total to 55,100.

An audit revealed that at least 41,000 kits are in pristine condition and will be used during the polls.

In the 1,450 wards, IEBC Says that there are about 46,223 polling stations.