The Elections Observation Group ELOG has lauded Thursday repeat president election saying it meets the threshold of a credible poll despite the harsh environment the electoral body IEBC was operating in.
According to ELOG, in 215 out of 290 constituencies where their observers were based only 4.8% of the Electronic voter Identification devices (EVIDS) failed in the polling stations with the voters being identified alphanumerically.
Further In 86% of these stations the secrecy of the ballot was not violated. The group also noted that ballot papers were stamped with IEBC official stamp before being issued in 99.6% of the polling stations.
In the transmission of results, 99.6% of the polling stations observed the presiding officer properly sign and stamped the presidential results form 34As with 94.8% of the stations sending the forms through the KIEMS kit and receiving a confirmation message.
The Observers however cited pockets of insecurity which it said infringed on the rights of voters willing to participate or boycott the exercise.
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The observers are now calling on the Inspector General of police Joseph Boinett to implement a raft of measures in ensuring sanity during the polling period countrywide.
Demos
IEBC has called off Saturday’s repeat presidential election in Nyanza region citing security concerns.
The postponement announced by IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati at the Bomas of Kenya on Friday evening will affect some 24 constituencies in the counties on Kisumu, Migori, Siaya and Homa Bay.
The election was slated for Saturday after polling failed to kickoff Thursday after supporters of the National Super Alliance took to the streets to protest disrupting transportation of polling materials in the affected counties.
Chebukati stated that “some IEBC staff were attacked and hijacked” and had to seek refuge from police stations.
“When the RO’s (returning officers) and polling staff’s lives are in danger, as a commission, we are deeply concerned. And because of all these factors, the commission has deliberated on the various incidences in parts of the country and has postponed the election scheduled to take place tomorrow, Saturday, to be announced at a later date,” he said.
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The following are the constituencies from the four counties in the Nyanza region where the repeat elections have been affected.
[ol]
[li]Alego Usonga[/li][li]Awendo[/li][li]Bondo[/li][li]Gem[/li][li]Ugenya[/li][li]Homabay Town[/li][li]KabondoKasipoul[/li][li]Karachuonyo Kaspul[/li][li]Kisumu Central[/li][li]Kisumu East[/li][li]Kisumu West,[/li][li]Muhoroni Nthiwa[/li][li]Suba North[/li][li]Nyakach[/li][li]Nyatike[/li][li]Rongo Rarieda[/li][li]Suba North[/li][li]Suba South[/li][li]Suna East[/li][li]Suna West[/li][li]Nyando[/li][li]Seme[/li][li]Ugunja[/li][li]Uriri[/li][/ol]
http://www.kbc.co.ke/local-news/elections-observation-group-elog-hails-repeat-poll/