Use varsities and colleges as tallying centres, Magoha tells IEBC

Education CS George Magoha has called for a policy change to ensure learners in primary and secondary schools don’t lose more time.

This is because most tallying centres and polling stations used in the recent polls were basic education institutions.

Magoha spoke while commissioning a Competency-Based Curriculum classroom at Ofafa Jericho High School on Wednesday.

“We want to persuade them perhaps to shift the tallying centre to another institution of higher learning for example a university, so that children don’t lose any more time,” he said.

Magoha further assured parents that while students remain in school during an election process, their safety is guaranteed.

“It is far much wiser to let them remain in school and avoid places where voting will take place,” he said.

The CS said the Ministry of Education is working to ensure studies are not affected by electoral procedures, as learning resumes on Thursday.

Learners have been out of school from August 1 and are expected to report back on August 18, to complete their second term.

For Kakamega and Mombasa counties where gubernatorial election will be conducted on August 23, Magoha said students will remain in school.

IEBC postponed voting in the governor races in the two counties because of a mix-up in the candidates’ names and picture details.

“If there’s an election for example that will take a day, we will not send our learners in boarding schools home again,” Magoha said.

According to a gazette notice from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, almost 250 schools were used as tallying centres.

In the second schedule of county tallying centres, 15 out of the 47 counties will have the tallying centres in schools.

“The counties are Mombasa, Embu, Kiambu, Nakuru, Trans Nzoia, Kakamega, Tana River, Nyeri, Kapsabet, Vihiga,” the notice reads.

Others are Machakos, Isiolo, Murang'a, Laikipia and Nyamira.

The schools are Bandari Maritime Academy, Mau Mau Secondary, Isiolo Boys, Kangaru Girls, Nyeri Primary, Kiambu High and Kitale School.

Also, Kapsabet Boys, Nanyuki High, Nakuru Boys, Kakamega High, Chavakali High and Kebirigo Boys.

According to IEBC another 17 institutions of higher education were also used as county tallying centres.

“The counties are Kilifi, Taita Taveta, Garissa, Baringo, Kericho, Busia, Garissa, Makueni, Narok, Bomet, Kisumu and Turkana,” the notice reads.

Others are Uasin Gishu, Kajiado, Bungoma, Homa Bay, Migori and Kisii counties.

The institutions are Pwani University, Taita Taveta University, Garissa University, Wote TTI, Turkana University College, Eldoret Polytechnic, Maasai Mara University and Masaai TTI. 

Others are St Giuseppina Bakhita TTI, Mabanga Farmers Training College, Busia ATC, Tom Mboya Labour College, Tom Mboya University College, Migori TTC, Kisii Polytechnic and Kericho TTC.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)