Chebukati: We'll adhere to court order on manual register

 

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has said it will act in accordance with the High Court orders of using manual registers.

The Commission's chairperson Wafula Chebukati spoke during a press briefing on Friday.

"The Commission in compliance with the decision in High Court shall now deploy the Printed Register of Voters at the polling station where names of voters shall be crossed out after identification of voters using KIEMs kits," Chebukati said.

Chebukati said the manual registers will only be used where KIEMs fail completely.

IEBC reiterated that they will adhere to the rule of law so as to provide free, fair and transparent elections on August 9.

On Thursday, the Nairobi High Court ordered the Commission to use the manual registers.

It said the Constitution stipulated that printed registers could be used if the KIEMS kit failed.

"What then will happen to a registered voter whose details cannot be picked by the KIEMs kit for the failure of technology in light of the decision by IEBC not to use printed register?” Justice Mugure Thande asked.

Justice Mugure said if the IEBC's decision to abandon manuals is allowed to remain unchallenged, the result would be that voters' constitutional right to vote under Article 38b would be violated.

“By the impugned decision, IEBC has failed to make administrative arrangements for the conduct of the elections designed to facilitate elections and not deny an eligible citizen the right to vote as required by law,” the court ruled.    BY THE STAR