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It’s impossible to rig Kenya poll – IEBC

by LORDRICK MAYABI

 

IEBC chairman Issack Hassan says the systems put in place by the electoral body cannot allow any manipulation of the election in any way/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 25 – The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has asserted that it will be ‘technically impossible’ to rig Monday’s general election.

 IEBC chairman Issack Hassan says the systems put in place by the electoral body cannot allow any manipulation of the election in any way.

 Presiding Officers will be required to account for each of the ballot papers within the serial numbers of those issued to their station.

 “It is not technically possible and feasible to rig the election because we have put systems to ensure that the will of the people will not be subverted,” he said explaining that the result figures will have to tally the number of ballot papers issued, as well as the electronic count of registered voters who check in using the biometric data reader.

 Hassan who spoke during a meeting with members of the African Union observer mission at his Anniversary Towers office, insisted that the commission had not received as many official complaints as the rhetoric of accusations being traded between political rivals at rallies and in the media.

 There have been counter-accusations by politicians from both the Jubilee and CORD alliances on an alleged plan to rig the much-awaited election.

 Hassan also emphasised that it is unlikely that voting will extend to the second day despite concerns over the amount of time it takes each voter to cast the six ballots.

 “Majority of our polling stations have an average of between 200 and 450 voters. It’s only about 10,000 stations that have a higher average, so for majority of the stations even when voters are taking eight minutes voting should close at 5pm,” added Hassan saying that those on the queue at 5pm when voting is expected to close will not be turned away.

 The IEBC chairman has also called on those with evidence on the buying of identity cards to present the evidence to the commission for immediate action.

 Former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano who leads the AU observer mission says that they are confident that elections will be conducted well.

 Chissano said that they are satisfied with the level of reforms and preparations so far exhibited by the IEBC following the lessons learnt from the 2007 election.

 “It is possible to convert a bad thing to a good one and this is the case where the lessons of the past have been learnt. Many countries will come and learn from Kenya on how they hold their elections,” the former president averred although cautioning all stakeholders in the process to commit to peace.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 25 – The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has asserted that it will be ‘technically impossible’ to rig Monday’s general election.

 IEBC chairman Issack Hassan says the systems put in place by the electoral body cannot allow any manipulation of the election in any way.

 Presiding Officers will be required to account for each of the ballot papers within the serial numbers of those issued to their station.

 “It is not technically possible and feasible to rig the election because we have put systems to ensure that the will of the people will not be subverted,” he said explaining that the result figures will have to tally the number of ballot papers issued, as well as the electronic count of registered voters who check in using the biometric data reader.

 Hassan who spoke during a meeting with members of the African Union observer mission at his Anniversary Towers office, insisted that the commission had not received as many official complaints as the rhetoric of accusations being traded between political rivals at rallies and in the media.

There have been counter-accusations by politicians from both the Jubilee and CORD alliances on an alleged plan to rig the much-awaited election.

 Hassan also emphasised that it is unlikely that voting will extend to the second day despite concerns over the amount of time it takes each voter to cast the six ballots.

“Majority of our polling stations have an average of between 200 and 450 voters. It’s only about 10,000 stations that have a higher average, so for majority of the stations even when voters are taking eight minutes voting should close at 5pm,” added Hassan saying that those on the queue at 5pm when voting is expected to close will not be turned away.

The IEBC chairman has also called on those with evidence on the buying of identity cards to present the evidence to the commission for immediate action.

 

Former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano who leads the AU observer mission says that they are confident that elections will be conducted well.

Chissano said that they are satisfied with the level of reforms and preparations so far exhibited by the IEBC following the lessons learnt from the 2007 election.

“It is possible to convert a bad thing to a good one and this is the case where the lessons of the past have been learnt. Many countries will come and learn from Kenya on how they hold their elections,” the former president averred although cautioning all stakeholders in the process to commit to peace.