The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has assured Kenyans that the mode of identification of voters on the election day shall be biometric identification using the KIEMS technology. This is after IEBC launched an SMS platform to enable voters to verify their registration details as we near the general elections. For a voter to verify his or her details, he or she should send their ID number or passport number to 70000. In a statement, IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati said they’re satisfied by the feedback, “We are satisfied with the feedback we have received so far and Kenyans are encouraged to continue using the service,” he said.
The IEBC Chairman said the Commission has the most updated and advanced database of persons in the country, adding that it’s an asset we must secure as Kenyans. However, he revealed that from the audit, it was noted that the register has 171,476 records that had invalid IDs when compared to National Registration Bureau database. He said the Commission decided to retain the names, “The Commission deliberated this issue extensively and resolved to retain the names of these individuals in the register in order to minimize chances of disenfranchisement.” Most of these records are as a result of clerical errors at data entry point.
Furthermore, IEBC has warned Kenyans to be wary of misinformation through social media, “We have also noted with concern some social media reporting that borders on deliberate misinformation on the actual state of the register of voters. We urge caution when it comes to freedom of expression on issues of the register at this point in time,” he said.