NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug, 9 – One of the most essential election materials is the poll commission’s, Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits.
On election day, however, several polling stations nationwide reported that their equipment failed thus forcing election officials to seek authorization in order to use the manual voter’s register.
ICT teams working with IEBC were called into action in an attempt to resolve the matter as voting was disrupted.
The commission has authorized the use of the manual register in Makueni county, that is in Kibwezi West constituency for 84 polling stations and Kakamega county, specifically, Malaba, Matungu, Mumias West, and Mumias East Constituencies for 154 polling stations.
At the same time, the commission has provided six backup kits per ward in the event of the failure of the kiems kits.
“When someone goes to the polling station, first you are identified biometrically, if your biometrics can not allow your details to pop up then they will use your ID number, the alphanumeric, by doing that they will have to fill a form 32 to show that you have been validated and if you are not found they will check whether it is the kit or something else has happened,” said IEBC Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera.
Where there is a delay in the opening and interruptions of voting at a polling station, the presiding officer will extend the hours of the polling by the amount of time lost
As of midday Tuesday, only 200 kiems kits out of the 46,229are said to have failed.
“It is not widespread. Technology does break down and when they do we have an alternative on how to address that which we already have,” said IEBC Commissioner Justus Nyang’aya.
Want to send us a story? Contact Shahidi News Tel: +254115512797 (Mobile & WhatsApp)
