Kenya: Elections Managers Assess Appropriate Use of ICT in Elections
By NewsfromAfrica
Mombasa …..Appropriate Information Technology and Communications solutions are making presence in elections management. ICT can be adopted in order to promote democracy, instill confidence in the electoral system and reduce elections induced conflicts across the World. Some of the critical areas where ICT can be used are voter registration, E-voting as well as results transmission and management.
These were the themes of the global conference on ICT and Management of Elections sponsored by UNDP and European Commission and co-hosted by IEBC. Mr. Isaak Hassan the Chair of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission reiterated the challenges that face the coming elections in Kenya observing that the elections mechanism and systems used must render justice to the electorates, stating that a poor electoral mechanism can easily deliver leaders who have not been elected by the people. He further observed that the IEBC has adopted the use of ICT in elections management especially in voter registration, transmission of vote results and to communicate both internally and externally using an array of new media tools such as bulk SMS and Internet. This has helped the electoral body increase administrative efficiency, reduced long term costs and enhanced political transparency.
The 2007 general elections in Kenya which resulted in strife and violence were characterized by flaws mainly in the voter register and transmission of results. It is estimated that there were 1.2 million dead voters on the elections register and the delay in vote transmission contributed to the violence that ensued after.
Speaking at the event the European Union Head of Delegation Mr. Lodewijk Briet encouraged Kenya to manage the elections properly in order to avoid a repeat of the 2007/2008 post elections violence. “The constitution has raised the stakes in the upcoming elections, by living to the provisions of the new constitution; Kenya will become once again a role model in Africa. However, if it misses this opportunity Kenya can easily join the countries with unstable political regimes and stifled development” observed Mr. Lodewijk Briet
Mr Aineas Chuma, the UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya observed that the coming elections must be managed properly to instill confidence in the electoral systems and processes in Kenya. He observed that a middle ground must be found between the ardent supporters and critics of the use of ICT in elections management to promote free and fair elections.
The United Nations Development Programme and the European Commission who have supported Kenya to fully implement the new constitution and peace accord sponsored the event which was jointly held with the support of the IEBC. In January 2012 UNDP jointly with other development partners pledged to support the elections to a tune of 3.6 billion through the elections reform and support programme to the government of Kenya.