The electoral agency has been asked to improve its electronic system to avoid inefficiency of their machines during the August 9 general election.
Some politicians who were cleared by IEBC officers to contest various seats in Homa Bay expressed concerns on Tuesday after the agency Candidate Registration Management system failed to operate.
The CRM failed during clearance of Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo causing inability to produce clearance certificates using computers.
Gogo who was cleared to defend her seat was given a handwritten clearance certificate due to failure of the system.
Kenneth Kambona who is vying for the Homa Bay senatorial seat and Jared Nyakiye who is eyeing Suba South parliamentary seat were also cleared by IEBC.
They asked IEBC to ensure its electronic systems are stable in preparedness for the coming polls.
Gogo expressed concern that collapse of the CRM in Rangwe signified that similar hitches can occur during the general election.
“The IEBC systems failure in candidates’ registration is causing a serious concern. The poll agency officers have asked me to return to their offices for a computer generated certificate,” Gogo said.
Speaking in Rangwe town on Tuesday, Gogo said they fear the problem can reoccur on the general election day.
The MP argued the systems failure causes questions in credibility of the poll.
“What will happen if the IEBC electronic system fails on elections day? This can be very dangerous and I challenge the commission to work on its electronic systems effectiveness as early as possible,” she added.
Kambona said it is imperative for the commission to undertake all precautionary measures to ensure the general election is credible.
“What we want is transparency in elections. It is evident that the people of Homa Bay need change in leadership. But this change can only be enhanced through a credible election,” Kambona said.
He argued lack of oversight had led to poor governance in Homa Bay.
Nyakiye said it is only a credible electoral processes that can enable the people of Suba South have good leaders after the polls.
The MP hopeful who has been the constituency office manager for nine years says he understands well the needs of residents.
“Suba South people are afflicted by various issues including harassment of fishermen in Lake Victoria. These issues can only be solved by electing a good MP who can only arise from a transparent election,” Nyakiye said.
Rangwe Constituency Returning Officer Lawrence Barasa admitted the CRM system failure but said there was no cause for alarm.
“The CRM failed but the law allows us to produce the candidates’ registration certificates manually in such a circumstance. There is no reason to worry,” he said.
