Election results ‘based on verified physical forms’

What you need to know:

  • Chebukati indicated that the commission had set aside its divisions in the wake of the annulment of the August 8 election.
  • The way the election was conducted, the commission will be hoping that this time round, its processes are verifiable.

The results declared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission at the Bomas of Kenya on Monday were based on verified physical forms filled by election officials at the polling stations and constituency tallying centres.

That verification was done at tables on the floor of the auditorium starting Friday, when the commission began receiving the forms 34A and 34B taken to the National Tallying Centre by constituency returning officers.

With indications that non-governmental organisations could challenge, via a petition at the Supreme Court, the way the election was conducted, the commission will be hoping that this time round, its processes are verifiable.

CREDIBLE
Asked on Sunday evening whether he had changed his position from 12 days ago, when he said he could not guarantee a credible election, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati was optimistic.

“We are here because of the Supreme Court judgment that directed us to hold a fresh presidential election.

"On the 8th of August, the commission thought we had done the best election ever, but here we are now,” he said.

VOTERS

He indicated that the commission had set aside its divisions in the wake of the annulment of the August 8 election, saying that they were all satisfied that the process was done properly, in a free and fair environment.

“I expressed my concerns on the process, I had my questions and most of the concerns I expressed were answered and as chairman, I can confidently stand here and tell you that the process that we are now carrying on is above board and except for the areas which did not vote.

"I can confidently say that I am satisfied with this process and that we shall give the people who voted, the Kenyans who voted, the will of those people will be realised in these ballots, which we are counting here,” he said.

RESULTS
Mr Chebukati has been emphatic that the basis on which the results would be announced is the physical delivery of the forms delivered by the returning officers.

“We have nothing to hide and Kenyans will have to know, and in any case you have the public portal, where you are accessing that information.

"I see the media are also tabulating their own figures. Let us all do it and compare notes at the end of the day,” he added.

The commission’s emphasis on having all the forms was evident when former South African president Thabo Mbeki visited the auditorium at the Bomas of Kenya and was taken through the verification process at one of the tables.

NYANZA COUNTIES
Even he was surprised that the officers had sent away the returning officer from Molo Constituency when they found that one of the original Forms 34A was missing and he had only brought a photocopy.

Insiders at the commission believe that the Supreme Court annulled the election mostly because the electoral agency was unable to explain itself.

Among the issues that could be brought up at the Supreme Court would be the failure to hold elections in 25 constituencies.

On Monday, vice chairman Consolata Maina said the decision not to hold the elections in the constituencies had been made in accordance with the Elections Act, which provides for the winner to be declared if the areas where voting did not take place would not make a difference.