Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has asked the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to explain its technology plans for the 2027 General Election. He spoke on Sunday at a church service at AIC Bathi in Kimende, Capital FM reported.
Gachagua said the IEBC's contract with technology provider Smartmatic expires on November 24. Buying a new system takes six months, he said. He warned that the gap could disrupt mass voter registration. He wants stakeholders to meet immediately to discuss renewing the contract. A "vacuum" was not acceptable, he said.
The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader also wants the IEBC to consult representatives of the United Opposition. He accused the commission of shutting stakeholders out of talks on election preparedness. "We are telling IEBC you cannot make decisions alone," Gachagua said. He said the opposition would give the commission a date for a meeting. If the IEBC refuses, the opposition would mobilise wananchi to accompany them and chant outside, he said.
According to the IEBC website, the commission signed a legally binding contract with Smartmatic International Holdings B.V. on November 25, 2021. The deal covers the supply, installation, testing, support and maintenance of the Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS).
Smartmatic was founded in 2000 in Florida, United States, and moved into election technology in 2002. It is headquartered in London. The IEBC says the firm has worked with election bodies in Belgium, Estonia, Los Angeles County and Zambia. The company has deployed election technology on five continents, recording and tabulating a cumulative 6.5 billion votes.
Capital FM's report did not include a response from the IEBC.