XNEWS
Date: 04.04.2017
Page 4
Article size: 489 cm2
ColumnCM: 108.66
AVE: 0.0
No parallel poll tallying, IIBC tells Nasa
No parallel tallying of votes, IEBC tells Nasa
The Independent Boundaries and Electoral
commission (IEBC) has told the opposition
coalition, the National Super Alliance (NASA),
to shelve its plans of setting up a parallel tallying
centre during the August 8, 2017 polls saying it is
not their duty.
In a statement to newsroom, the electoral
commission says no authority or institution is
mandated by the constitution other than IEBC
to manage and announce the final tally of all
elections.
"For the avoidance of doubt, it is only the
Commission that is allowed under the law to
count, tally, collate, announce and declare the
results of an election. Other actors including
political parties shall have access to the
results within the framework established by
the Commission," IEBC Chairman Wafula
Chebukati said today.
Chebukati has encouraged all players in the
electioneering process to allow the commission
to execute its mandate as set out in law while
reiterating its commitment to a free, fair and
credible election.
He said the Constitution, the Elections Act as
amended and the attendant regulations provide
the procedure for elections results management.
"The commission wishes to assure all players
that it is taking all measures to ensure that the
eventual outcome of the election reflects the will
of the people," he said.
ODM leader Raila Odinga yesterday announced
that NASA would tally and announce its own
presidential results during the election.
Mr Odinga said his analysis had shown that the
opposition had the numbers required to kick out
Jubilee from power as long as all the votes were
counted correctly.
"IEBC will announce their results ... and we
will announce ours from our tallying centre for
comparison. We will not accept fake results as
happened in 2013 at Bomas of Kenya," he said
ODM leader Raila Odinga with nairobi governor Evans Kidero at Woodley Grounds during a campaign rally yesterday. Mr Odinga announced the
intention of the oppositionb to set up a parrallel tallying center for the August 8, 2017 elections. PHOTO: COURTESY
at a political rally in Nairobi's Joseph Kang'ethe
Grounds in Kibra constituency on Sunday.
However, Wafula has ruled Odinga out of order
saying the commission developed the results
management framework which is publicly
available on its website.
According to the election amendment
law, the framework clarifies the procedure
the commission shall follow in ensuring
transparency and accountability in election
results management. We invite all actors to
review the results management framework.
"By setting up the new integrated election
management system (KIEMS), the commission
shall guarantee greater transparency,
accountability and auditability of the results,"
IEBC stated. "We expect to have an exhibition
of the KIEMS in order to allow the public to
appreciate some of the improvements in election
management that come with the new technology,"
it added.
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya