IEBC to conduct second simulation of poll results transmission

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is set to conduct the second simulation exercise of the electronic transmission of poll results on Tuesday.

IEBC first signed the Results Transmission Protocol and Media guidelines with the Kenya Editors Guild and Kenya Union of Journalists on behalf of the Kenya Media Sector Working Group.

IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati said the electoral body is committed to carrying out a free, fair, and successful exercise.

He called on all political stakeholders to work together with the Commission to ensure a successful and seamless exercise.

The simulation exercise is designed to pick challenges in the transmission of electronic copies of election results used to collate provisional election results at the National Tallying Center.

Electronically transmitted results are only used to generate a provisional tally with IEBC required to verify physical statutory forms before declaring the outcome of an election.

The first simulation exercise was conducted in June 2022.

During the exercise at the Bomas, a simulation of result transmission was conducted from 2,900 centres from the 1,450 wards.

Chebukati said it might not be possible for anyone to interfere with the networks and channels being used in the transmission of results on August 9.

The commission put a strong fight in front of election stakeholders as it sought to assure Kenyans of a credible process as compared to the last poll.

During the 2017 General election, there were claims of interference on servers for the transmission of results to the national tallying center.

Commission's secretary Marjan Hussein, however, said they are going to provide login accounts to media, political parties, and other key stakeholders in the process.