IEBC has committed to conducting a simulation of election results transmission by Thursday this week to foster confidence in capacity, efficiency and technological preparedness ahead of the August 9 General Elections, chairman Wafula Chebukati says.
The mock exercise conducted at the National Tallying centre in Bomas of Kenya set to be conducted at Bomas will assure the nation of the Commission’s commitment to delivering credible, free and fair elections.
Speaking during the clearing of Azimio la Umoja presidential hopeful Raila Odinga, Chebukati ruled out the interference of telecommunication infrastructure, saying Kenyans will have access to network connectivity on the voting day without any hindrance.
The commission also says it will transmit manually results from 33 polling centres.
Chebukati revealed that the commission was forced to undertake the decision after it was directed by the court to add names of other candidates who were not on the initial list.
The affected areas include Kirinyaga County, Embu County and East Asembo Ward in Rarieda.
Meanwhile, the electoral body cleared Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga ahead of the fast-approaching August polls.
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati presented Raila and his running mate Martha Karua with the sample ballot paper.
The former premier will now face his main challenger, Deputy President William Ruto, who was cleared by the electoral body on June 5.
Raila’s clearance to vie in the August polls comes a day after his political nemesis Deputy President William Ruto of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party was cleared to vie for the upcoming August polls.
The Kenya Kwanza coalition leader received his clearance certificate yesterday and was cleared after fulfilling all the requirements set out by the constitution and the electoral body.
Ruto and Raila are touted as front-runners in the highly-charged race with the latter having the blessings of President Uhuru who has been accused of managing his own succession.
Odinga is the fifth presidential candidate to be cleared by the commission.
Other presidential candidates cleared so far are Roots party leader George Wajackoyah, David Mwaura Waihiga of Agano party, and Walter Mong’are of Umoja Summit party.