Things Kenyans need to know about the new IEBC KIEMS kit before and after they vote

The Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) has three most essential parts that Kenyan voters will interact with as they turn out to elect their leaders on Tuesday.

These are some of the things you should know about the IEBC KIEMS.

You will be required to produce your original Identification card or passport once you to the poling clerks who will guide you throughout the process.

The KIEMS system will electronically identify you through its automated poll book known as the Electronic Voter Identification (EVID) system. It is made up of a laptop that is attached with a finger print reader and a handheld device with in-build finger print reader.

The system identifies voters biometrically and seeks to curb impersonation during the voting exercise making sure only those that had been registered are allowed to cast their votes.

The KIEMS also has a system that will enable presiding officers present and transmit results to observation centers through specially configured mobile devices.

The mobile phone devices have will aid the simultaneous transmission of tallied results to the constituency, county and national final tallying centers.

These system seeks;

• Enhancing transparency through electronic transmission of provisional results from the polling stations
• Displaying provisional results at the tally centers for all agents and officials
• Will provide access to provisional elections data to media and other stakeholders in real time for broadcast.

The greatest win on the result transmission system is that it does not allow election official to transmit results with figures more than registered voters at any polling station. This implies that there will be no successful attempt to manipulate poll results if the results transmission system works.

The efficiency of the electronic results transmission system relies on connectivity and with nearly a quarter of polling stations in the country having network accessibility challenges, the commission has said there are satellite devices across all the 290 constituencies to tame the challenge.

KIEMS also has the Biometric voter registration system that was used to electronically capture voters’ facial image, finger prints and civil data. It creates information that supports a voter’s identification on the polls day.

PHOTO: Safran Identity and Security officials Ms Lilian Owitti (left) and Chaka Simba (centre) flanked by Postal Corporation of Kenya Clearing and Forwarding Assistant Manager, Mr Wilson Yegon (right) verifying the shipment details on one of the KIEMS Electoral kits at JKIA.

Apart from these sections of the IEBC KIEMS, there is that of candidate registration that helps the commission to verify the accuracy of details for various seat contenders, compliance and generates ballot paper proofs.

It also enables the commission link up with political parties and even independent candidates, it is basically a register of the people who have been seeking to convince you to vote for them.