The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has discarded plans to print an extra result declaration form booklet following a meeting with representatives of presidential candidates.
Speaking at the Bomas of Kenya after meeting with representatives of presidential candidates William Ruto (UDA), Raila Odinga (Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya), George Wajackoyah (Roots Party) and David Mwaure (Agano Party), IEBC chair, Wafula Chebukati said only one copy of the form will be used for the purpose of the transmission of the presidential election results.
The commission had printed two books of Form 34A labelled Book 1 of Book 2 and Book 2 of 2 a move that politicians claimed was aimed at compromising the results of the August 9.
According to Chebukati, the controversial decision to print two copies of Forms 34A and 34B was reached following an advisory by the Greece firm contracted to print electoral materials.
He explained that the Greece company contracted to print the result forms booklets in carbonated format hence the reason for each of the forms being printed in pairs.
He added that the printing firm had advised the Commission that printing a single form would not give a clear impression of the results, hence the move to duplicate them.
Chebukati explained that they will only use one booklet – Form 34a for purposes of transmission of the presidential elections.
“The second booklet will be sealed on arrival at the polling stations in a tamper-proof envelope and kept in the ballot box and sealed with materials at the end of polling. The second booklet will not be used,” Chebukati stated.
“On the issue of the first booklet, the original will be brought to the national tallying centre for purposes of verification of results by the national presidential officer then the copies will be allocated as follows; four copies will be given to agents of presidential candidates, one copy will be put in the ballot box and sealed together with election materials and that leaves one copy which will be posted on the door,” he added.
The IEBC Chair also clarified that Forms 34b will be managed at the Constituency level and will be managed by the returning officer.
He noted that 34b will be printed and delivered in the country with the remaining election materials that are being printed.
Deputy President William Ruto, who is the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate, Thursday joined Azimio One Kenya coalition party flag-bearer Raila Odinga in accusing the electoral agency of having an extra set of results declaration forms, complete with the security features.
Odinga said the forms could be used to transmit results other than those declared by the IEBC at the polling stations or constituency tallying centres.