27% of polling station have no network coverage – IEBC

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) now says that 27% of polling stations in the country are out of 3G or 4G network coverage, directing affected presiding officers to move to areas with network to be able to electronically transmit the presidential results in the much-anticipated Tuesday (August 8) polls.

According to the electoral agency, the 11,155 out of the total 40,883 polling stations are not covered by the network essential for electronic transmission of results during Tuesday’s General Election.

However, the Wafula Chebukati-led commission has affirmed that electronic transmission of results is still intact as additional to presiding officers moving to the nearest point where the network is enabled, IEBC has provisioned satellite devices in all the 290 constituency tallying centers across the country to enhance transmission rate.

According to the Opposition National Super Alliance (NASA), electronic transmission of results is paramount to the credibility of this year’s election.

In June, a three-Judge bench of the Appellate Court upheld a lower court ruling that presidential election results as announced at the constituency level are final.