Voter listing a test for IEBC after kits saga

President Kibaki was on Monday registered as a voter, kicking off the countdown for the March 4, 2013 General Election.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is counting on cutting-edge technology to prepare a new and more accurate voter’s roll.

With memories of the botched disputed 2007 election still fresh, IEBC is approaching the voter registration knowing full well that a botched voter registration process could have negative consequences for the credibility of the coming election.

The registration will be a test for an electoral body still struggling to demonstrate integrity and competence, having just bungled the original plan to procure biometric voter registration equipment under circumstances that forced the Cabinet to move in to save the situation.

The stakes are especially high for IEBC because it is more or less boxed in by a constitutional provision which says that the election must be held in March 2013.

In just a month, IEBC must put in place a system that will capture and store voter information at the same time making sure that the register is secure and without errors. (Read: Low turnout as voter listing starts)

The technology will identify voters by name, age, photograph and finger prints.

The registration kit consists of a lap top, a finger print scanner and a printer. And each unit will have an external drive for data storage, a long lasting battery for power where electricity is vulnerable and a weather proof case to protect delicate electronics.

Registering 20 million voters in two months is going to be a massive exercise that will test IEBC’s competence and efficiency in major ways

Kicking off the exercise, the President issued a stern warning to those who want to disrupt voter registration that they will be dealt with firmly.

The preparations will in 103 days culminate in the election of a President, governors, senators, MPs, women representatives and county representatives. It will be the first under the new constitution.

Registration is on-going in all constituencies and will end on December 18.

On Monday, the President announced that security had been stepped up around the country to ensure that the registration goes smoothly.

He said registration officers should be left to do their work without interference as anyone obstructing their duties or endangering their lives “will have themselves to blame”.

“I caution that the government will deal with anyone who may seek to disrupt the exercise…you will not be forgiven for any mischief for whoever you are, we shall get you,” said the President.

“There’s no point of messing up these elections, where Kenyans will be given an opportunity to exercise their democratic rights. Why then should someone interfere with this process?”

“No one has even the remotest right to interfere with the voter registration exercise, whether you are tall, short, or fat. You will see what we shall do to you.”

The President’s warning follows previous threats by the secessionist group, Mombasa Republican Council, which has threatened to disrupt the voter registration exercise as well as a boycott next year’s elections.

The country has also witnessed an increase in insecurity in areas such at Garissa, Nairobi, Turkana, Tana River and others.

The registration is being conducted by 30,000 clerks in 25,000 registration centres in 1,450 constituency assembly wards across the country. (Read: IEBC begins training clerks)

The clerks will use 15,000 Biometric Voter Registration machines to register at least 18 million voters in the next 30 days.

While urging eligible voters to register afresh to enable them participate in the March 4 elections, the Head of State joined IEBC chair Ahmed Issack Hassan in ruling out any extension of the registration period.

Mr Hassan cautioned voters against registering twice or using fake Identity documents during the process. Those caught trying to do so will be severely punished.

He said they will be working closely with the Ministry of Immigration, which has the records of all Kenyans, to weed out such individuals, who will then be named and shamed.

Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa said he had full confidence in IEBC’s ability to deliver a free and fair election.

“The next three months will be key. They need all the support they require to enable them fulfil their mandate as expected,” he said.

Mr Hassan said that the commission will be seeking help to have sections of the Elections Act, 2011 amended to accommodate the shift in the timelines so as to avoid legal tussles.

“In order to recover lost time we will seek to have section 6 (2) amended to reduce the minimum voter inspection period from 30 days to 15 days and section 6 (3) to reduce the minimum period by which the final register is gazetted from 30 to 21 days,” the IEBC boss said.