Tempers flare as patience wears thin during grueling tallying at Bomas

A melee ensued at Utamaduni Hall between Charity Ngilu, Moses Kuria and Gladys Shollei, and escalated to the auditorium where Aaron Cheruiyot and Charles Njagua Kanyi joined in.

The scuffle was set off by the discovery of a bag. It was handed to security officers who discovered that it had a laptop inside. In the finger-pointing and exchange of harsh words that ensued, Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja alleged that it contained devices that could be used to manipulate election results.

It was taken away by the security agents. As a result of the scuffle, police officers were deployed to the auditorium floor to act as a buffer and prevent the politicians from accessing the auditorium floor.

The hall was closed off for about 30 minutes, locking in those who were inside the auditorium and preventing entry.

But IEBC officials later said agents were allowed to bring laptops into the auditorium but the gadgets had to be declared to security and be absolutely necessary to the process.

The restrictions introduced yesterday [Friday] afternoon extended to banning printed material to the verification desks and who would be allowed to monitor the exercise.

The floor was restricted to IEBC officials, party agents and returning officers. The chief agent and deputy would also be allowed as would a party lawyer.

IEBC's biggest concern on Thursday was the pace the verification and tallying process was taking as it blamed political party and presidential candidates' agents for causing disruption.

IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati and vice-chair Juliana Cherera. [David Gichuru, Standard]

But the threats to the process aren't only within the tallying centre but also outside.

The commission yesterday appealed to the public to ignore reports - Commissioner Abdi Guliye said the commission was a target of misinformation and disinformation - suggesting that their systems were compromised.

Results portal

IEBC CEO Hussein Marjan assured the public that the electoral agency's website was full proof and not susceptible to hacking and refuted reports that the results portal had been interfered with.

"There are reports online that our systems have been hacked. That is not true. We anticipated that people will try and interfere with our systems but the mechanisms that we have put in place are full proof," said Marjan.

As the race to State House entered its homestretch, leaders yesterday camped at Bomas yesterday to ensure the tallying process went on unhitched.

Those present included Azimio's executive director Raphael Tuju who spent a better chunk of his time in the premises at a VIP tent outside.

Others who were in Bomas were outgoing MPs Kanini Kega, Caleb Kositany Nixon Korir and Wilson Sossion. Lawyer Paul Mwangi and outgoing Murang'a governor Mwangi wa Iria were also present.

Others included UDA Secretary General Veronicah Maina, Josphat Nanok, Suleiman Shahbal, Ababu Namwamba, UDA communications Director Hussein Mohammed, Governor-elect Gladys Wanga and outgoing Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya and Kisumu county boss Anyang Nyong'o.