The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has expressed concern over misleading reports appearing in a section of the media on the processes leading to the August 9 General Election.
IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati said that media is a critical stakeholder in the electoral process and it is paramount that information they publish or broadcast is factual and professional.
In a statement to newsrooms on Tuesday, Chebukati said that the Commission, in preparation for the August 9, 2022 General Election, has adhered to the Supreme Court judgement and orders of Presidential Election Petition Number 1 of 2017 in all its processes including results transmission.
“Verification and inspection of the register of voters is ongoing until June 2, 2022. The purpose of the exercise is to enable voters to verify correctness of their details, including the polling stations, and to afford them an opportunity to correct any noted errors,” explained Chebukati adding that in the course of the exercise, the Commission has received complaints regarding movements of voters to different polling centres and stations.
He said that the Commission is validating all the transfers effected with the duly filled transfer forms with a view of taking corrective action.
“The KPMG audit of the register of voters is concurrently ongoing with the verification exercise and the report will be received by the Commission and made public. The recommendation from the said report will be implemented in readiness for certification and publication of the register of voters in accordance with the law,” said the chairman.
Chebukati said that according to Section 44, subsection 4(a) and (b) of the Elections Act, the Commission is required to procure and put in place the technology necessary for the conduct of a General Election at least 120 days before such election; and test, verify and deploy such technology at least 60 days before a General Election.
“The Commission initiated procurement of election technology in April 2021 using open tendering method and signed a contract with the vendor in November 2021. The Commission has since deployed the same in the register of voters’ preparation and the ongoing verification exercise. For the purpose of results transmission during the General Election, the Commission will test and verify the technology in accordance with the law, on or before 9th June 2022,” explained Chebukati.
He added that section 39 of the Election Act requires that the results of the Presidential elections in form 34A be transmitted electronically to Constituency and the National Tallying Centres.
“Once the register of voters has been finalised, the Commission will determine how many polling stations are outside the 3-G network and publish the same. Thereafter, all polling stations will be tested for the purpose of results transmission and satellite modems deployed in polling stations without 3-G network,” he said.
Chebukati said that the Commission is committed to an open door policy for all its stakeholders including the media in accordance with the law.
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