AG Githu Muigai supports manual backup for 2017 polls

Attorney-General Githu Muigai, who was before the Senate Legal Affairs Committee on January 3, 2017. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Attorney-General Githu Muigai has supported the use of a manual backup voting system for the 2017 elections, saying an electronic one could fail.

The AG told the Senate Legal Affairs Committee on Tuesday that contrary to what critics have said, Kenya has a manual system supported by electronic components.

But his comments were faulted by Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar, who said Mr Muigai's claim that Kenya's system is manual is false.

"We don't want dead voters to vote. We want to cure mischief through [the] electronic system," Mr Omar said.

He said the election laws came from a negotiated process and one political wing cannot single-handedly amend them.

Mr Omar said the move has created suspicion and the tension.

Deputy Speaker Kembi Gitura and Nandi Senator Stephen Sang' supported the Attorney-General, saying a manual backup system for identifying voters and transmitting results is important.

Governors objected to a manual backup and rooted for a technology-based one.

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto said they will support a technology-based backup and warned that the amended election laws could create conflict in the country.

Makueni Governor said the country should not go back to manual system for voter identification and transmission of results, where progress had already been made in using technology.

The Senate Legal Affairs Committee, chaired by Busia Senator Amos Wako, is collecting views on the controversial changes made to the Election Law (Amendment) Bill before presenting a report to the House.

The committee is also expected to get views from the Coalition for Credible Polls 2017, Media Owners Association, Civil Society Reference Group and Computer Society of Kenya.