IEBC revamps ICT sector in preparation for 2017 elections

The Independent electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has revamped the ICT department by setting up a new data centre as the country prepares for the 2017 elections.

Addressing the media on Thursday afternoon, IEBC chair Issack Hassan said the system will be tested six months before the elections, adding that all political parties will be invited to test the new system.

“Concerns have also been raised about the technology that failed in the last elections. Yes, we are doing something about it.  First the whole IT department has been restructured as part of wide ranging institutional reform and capacity building. A new data centre is being set up to insure against failure among other technology upgrades, which will be tested for stress, readiness and resilience at least six months before elections. We will bring on board all stakeholders to ascertain the functionality and efficiency of the technology,” said the IEBC chair.

IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba said that the commission hopes to acquire all ICT gadgets by December 2016.

“There have been claims that the Biometric Voter registration (BVR) kits failed in 2013. Let me make it clear. BVR kits have never failed in this country. The gadgets that failed were the Electronic Voter Identification (EVID) kits. They only failed in 2013 because they were either not charged properly, they got to polling stations late, or because the staff was not trained properly. But we have been using them in by-elections.”

Hassan urged all eligible Kenyans to register as voters in order to avoid the last minute rush.

“As we speak now, we are conducting mass voter registration in various places where it could not be carried out in March because of by-elections. The Commission is also in the process of cleaning up and updating the principal voters’ register, which will be published for public inspection,” he said.

This came as IEBC commissioners vowed to stay put despite pressure by the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leaders to exit office over credibility concerns.

The defiant Hassan instead challenged Raila Odinga to back his allegations of a plot by the commission to rig next year’s election in favor of Jubilee and President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“The commissioners are not resigning. We are setting a dangerous precedence, if every time we disagree with a decision we seek the removal from office of those we do not agree with,” said Hassan.

In a news briefing on Thursday afternoon, Hassan said the nine commissioners will only resign if such evidence is availed and accused CORD of vilifying them, only praising IEBC commissioners when their candidate wins a poll.

“The commission is not expected to make popular decisions or defer to any authority in the performance of its mandate. It will make decisions that are firmly founded in law, however unpopular, in the interest of justice,” he added.

The IEBC boss also refuted the Sh50 million bribe allegations linked to a UK printing firm, saying the scandal does not touch on current commissioners.

The commission is instead urging CORD leaders to engage with the commission in a constructive way as the country prepares for the 2017 General Election.

“The commission will continue to engage with all stakeholders and implement the election operation plan. We urge all parties, candidates and stakeholders who have issues to bring them to the commission. Indeed, most of the issues being raised are under active consideration and implementation by the commission at the highest level. Let us just highlight some of these activities,” said Hassan.