IEBC's Christopher Msando was face of polls technology

In postponing the simulation of the countrywide election results transmission, the electoral agency was not only doing so in mourning its employee, Mr Christopher Chege Msando.

It did so because Mr Msando was at the centre of the planned event and had become the face of the elections technology ahead of the high-stakes polls in six days.

Since he was named acting information and communications technology (ICT) director in May 27, Mr Msando conducted technology demonstrations for journalists each time there were doubts.

He also did so in several live television interviews.

“In 2013, technology did not fail,” he told a technology breakfast meeting on June 12. “People failed technology.”

SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY

He argued that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had focused on early delivery of the systems, massive satellite technology deployment in case phone networks failed, and the provision of backups.

While Kenya only needs 40,883 technology kits for voter identification and results transmission, one for each of the polling stations, the IEBC has procured 45,000 to ensure three are backups in each of the 1,450 wards.

With this arrangement in place, Mr Msando believed that even if one kit failed, the situation would be salvaged by the additional gadgets.

“The family has lost. The IEBC has lost. Chris was one of the most dedicated employees of the IEBC, and was the driving force in the ICT sector,” said IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati.

CITY MORTUARY

“It is team work (setting up of the electoral technology) and he was one of the team leaders,” said communications manager Andrew Limo.

Mr Msando, whose body was identified at the City Mortuary on Monday, knew every nook and cranny of the planned IEBC elections technology. He never faltered in praising it.

He believed in the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System the IEBC is deploying to identify voters, as well as transmit results when the 19,611,423 registered voters go to the polls.

“The system is intelligent enough not to allow voting twice through up-to-date biometric identification. It will be sending three-hour periodic updates of voter turnout that must match with results, and has a system that helps it pick the best and strongest network to send them,” Mr Msando said in an interview with the Nation in late June.

MURDER

Meanwhile, the Law Society (LSK) of Kenya has condemned the brutal murder of the IEBC ICT manager.

LSK President Isaac Okero on Monday termed the murder as a shocking and horrific event, coming  three days, after his mysterious disappearance.

The late Msando had allegedly complained that his life was in danger and reported to the police but no actions were taken.

“Evil and heartless criminals have deprived a Kenyan citizen, father, husband and brother of his life for merely doing his job. It puts into question whether critical information known to Mr Msando has fallen into the hands of those who do not wish our country well; and whether this places in jeopardy the integrity of the election process,” he said.

PROTECTION

The LSK wants the acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet to assure Kenyans that all IEBC personnel involved in administering the General Election are accorded adequate security and protection.

“We demand that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations swiftly and urgently investigates this crime and apprehends Mr Msando’s killers who must be arraignment in court and prosecuted accordingly,” said Mr Okero.

Further, Amnesty International has also called for speedy investigations on the murder.

“This gruesome murder, just a week before hotly contested elections, should sound alarm bells for the Kenyan government and highlight the need for them to up their game in terms of ensuring the safety of key officials at this tense time,” said Amnesty International’s Kenya researcher, Abdullahi Halakhe.