Editor's Review

The court on Thursday ruled that the manual register should be used in the coming polls.

IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati has said they will comply with the court directive on the use of the manual voter register in the coming elections.

On Friday, Chebukati said they would deploy the manual register in all polling stations as directed by the courts saying they are committed to ensuring the polls are credible.

"We shall n deploy the printed register at the polling station where the voters' names shall be crossed out after their identification using the KIEMs Kits. 

"The commission commits to adhere to the rule of Law and will facilitate the realization of the political rights of Kenyans as envisaged in the constitution in order to deliver free and fair credible elections."

IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati and his team of commissioners. PHOTO | COURTESY

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The courts on Thursday ruled that the manual register should be used in the coming polls.

Justice Mugure Thande trashed IEBC's stand that they will only use an electronic mode of voter identification.

Justice Thande ruled that the use of electronic voter register only will deny many eligible voters a chance to vote.

"IEBC’s decision not to use the printed voter register, there is a real risk of disenfranchising eligible voters. This court must therefore step in through its supervisory jurisdiction to ensure that the commission though independent operates subject to the law,” he said.

The IEBC had written to the Azimio La Umoja coalition saying they will only use manual register if the KIEMS fails.

Azimio Presidential candidate Raila Odinga on the other hand had said the use of a manual register is a must.

Raila even warned the IEBC that there will be no elections if the manual register is not used.

The new directive is a win for Kenyans and the Azimio team that pushed for the register.

Justice Mugure said technology is prone to failure and can also get lost hence the need to have a standby alternative to ensure continuity of the electoral process.

“However, its common knowledge that data and devices such as mobile phones and even computers which don’t require internet does get lost or corrupted or interfered with through criminal and human elements,” the court said.