Inside Bomas of Kenya, the IEBC nerve centre in Nairobi

The Bomas of Kenya has been turned into a fortress with military-type security features deployed at virtually every corner of the facility that will be the focus of millions of Kenyans for the next seven days.

The facility has been gazetted as the National Tallying Centre and had been closed to the public to the public for the last one month for renovations to fit the specifications of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

PARKING

Right from the gate, Bomas has become an access-only place, with those without the IEBC accreditation cards turned back at the gate.

Cars without IEBC parking tickets are also asked to turn at the gate that is being manned by five police men, and five private security guards hired for that purpose.

Inside, five more policemen have created a barrier where they re-confirm the accreditation cards, before you are allowed in.

To get to the auditorium where IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati will make the all-important announcement of the winner of Tuesday’s General Election is even harder. More scrutiny is carried on all persons.

3,000-SEATER

All those accessing it are asked to offload all metallic contents in their possession, they are scanned and then re-scanned by a hand-held metal detector before their access card are checked again— all these processes by policemen supervising private security guards.

The access cards have been configured with a security chip that allows one to swipe through a grilled gate that has been erected at what used to be the large entrance to the auditorium.

Inside, the IEBC has meticulously planned the 3,000-seater facility to seat the guests who will be streaming into the auditorium from Tuesday when the results start trickling in.

INTERNET

Next to Mr Chebukati and the six other commissioners, who will be in the hot seat, will be the presidential candidates, their families and their chief agents.

IEBC staff have been isolated and their table and podium raised.

Then there will be observers who will sit next to political party representatives.

The media, whom the IEBC has promised a dedicated 24-hour link to its live results, will have their own row and seats where they will be beaming live the events to millions of Kenyans who will be waiting with bated breath after casting their ballots.

There will also be spaces for IEBC guests, as well as its officials who will collate and  tally results before Mr Chebukati makes the final announcement.

KERRY

The commission has also set a state-of-the-art media centre, with at least 50 internet-enabled computers.

Former US Secretary of State John Kerry termed as “extra-ordinary” the organisation of the IEBC after he visited Bomas and held a morning meeting with Mr Chebukati.

“The IEBC has done an extraordinary job to ensure that Kenya has a free, fair and credible poll,” said Mr Kerry, who is leading the Carter Centre Observer Group.

“People will need to be patient, and we wish everybody well.”