IEBC to identify voters electronically in Makueni by-elections

James Oswago, IEBC chief executive officer (CEO), said that the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) machines used in the last general elections assisted the commission to come up with the register.

“The register that we have came up as a result of the BVR that we had. So the BVR actually worked,” Oswago said.

HumanIPO reported earlier this month Safaricom had withdrawn their participation in the by-election after having doubts over the system’s functionality, but the commission has assured Kenyans that the kits have been tested and are ready for the exercise.

Lilian Mahiri Zaja, IEBC vice-chair, said successful elections are ones that are transparent and credible to all Kenyans.

“Moving forward we want an election that will be successful, that will be known to Kenyans on what actually happens, the transparency bit because I think there are people who feel we have not been transparent enough,” said Zaja.

The commission’s decision to use EVID comes amid sharp criticism from CORD chiefs Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, and Moses Wetangula who termed the commission as the most corrupt and inefficient institution and must be disbanded before the next general elections.

The CORD members criticised the electoral body over the failure of the BVR kits in the March 4 general election.

Responding to this attack, government leaders have come out in defence of the IEBC.

Deputy President William Ruto said: “We want to respect the constitution, respect the institutions set up by the constitution and respect the decisions that are arrived at by the institutions set by the constitution.”

The leaders wanted those who wish to see the IEBC disbanded to formally present a petition to that effect as required by the constitution.

The EVID (often called the poll book) is a piece of equipment used on voting day to biometrically identify voters at polling stations.