Breakthrough as govt strikes deal on vote kit
President Kibaki chairs a meeting with the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission at his Office in Harambee House. Also present were the Prime Minister Raila Ondinga and the Vice President Hon Kalonzo Musyoka. Photo\PPS
The government has struck a deal with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission on the possibility of biometric voter registration ahead of the general elections.
The deal bypasses the laborious tendering process, which had already failed, and opts for a government to government procurement and delivery of the BVR kits.
The fine details are yet to be released, but the deal could see the Kenyan hire BVR kits from other African countries. Ghana's electoral commission has already expressed a willingness to hire out its kits.
A statement released on Monday by IEBC stated: "After lengthy deliberations, the Commission requested that the BVR be procured through a Government to Government arrangement. We are glad to inform Kenyans that the Government has accepted the Commission’s request and has committed to procure and deliver the kits on time for the exercise."
The government has also agreed to initiate amendments to the Elections Act to reduce the period for closure of the register from 90 days to 45 days. This will allow more time for voter registration.
"We assure Kenyans that with the above arrangements, the Commission will deliver on BVR registration, as part of its commitment to deliver transparent, credible, free and fair General Elections," the IEBC statement said.
The deal was struck in a crisis meeting chaired by President Kibaki at Harambee house with IEBC commissioners.
The meeting, attended by Prime Minister Raila Odinga and selected members of the Cabinet, was a top level response to deliberate on how to restore the Biometric Voter Registration plan which collapsed last week.
Pressure has been mounting on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to reconsider its decision to adopt manual registration of voters.
A statement released by the presidential press service after the meeting stated "it was agreed that the IEBC should adopt the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) system."
Those present were Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, ministers Yussuf Haji, Eugene Wamalwa, Otieno Kajwang, James Orengo and Attorney-General Prof. Githu Muigai.
"The IEBC held a consultative meeting with President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga on the Commission’s calendar of events ahead of the March 2013 general elections," the PPS statement added.
Commission chairman Issack Hassan briefed the meeting on the programmed activities geared towards transparent, peaceful, free and fair elections.
Mr. Hassan outlined the measures IEBC has taken to ensure that the coming elections will meet the expectations of all Kenyans.
President Kibaki, on his part, pledged full Government support to IEBC in fulfilling its constitutional mandate of conducting a credible election.
The meeting also discussed the issuance of National Identity (ID) cards to all eligible Kenyans.
In this regard, the President directed the Ministry of Immigration and Registration of person to expedite the issuance of IDs so that majority of Kenyans will be able to register as voters and participate in the forthcoming general elections.
