Win For Raila As Court Issues Crucial Order To IEBC

Azimio la Umoja coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga has scored a victory after the High Court ordered the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to use the manual register to identify voters in the August 9 general elections.

Justice Mugure Thande had dismissed IEBC's stand to only rely on the electronic voter register to identify the voters in the polling exercise.

Justice Thande expressed that by using the electronic method alone, it would deny many eligible voters an opportunity to vote in the elections next week.

IEBC registration clerks at Madaraka primary school using the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS) kit. /STANDARD DIGITAL

"IEBC’s decision not to use the printed voter register, there is a real risk of disenfranchising eligible voters. This court must therefore step in through its supervisory jurisdiction to ensure that the commission though independent operates subject to the law,” he said.

The commission had written to Azimio revealing that they would only use the manual register in the event the Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits fail.

Justice Mugure further warned that technology can fail and also get lost hence the need to have a standby alternative to ensure that the electoral process goes on uninterrupted.

“However, its common knowledge that data and devices such as mobile phones and even computers which don’t require internet does get lost or corrupted or interfered with through criminal and human elements,” the court indicated.

The ruling comes after Raila called for a mandatory implementation of the manual register, failure to which he would boycott the elections.

He had claimed that he received information from reliable sources that the commission’s chairman, Wafula Chebukati, and his team were linked to a plot to print excess ballot papers in a neighbouring country and sneak them into Kenya on election day. 

However, he said that he cannot and will not boycott the elections, assuring supporters in Kirinyaga County on Thursday, July 7 where he took his campaigns, that he would win the elections. 

"We shall not and cannot boycott the elections. We are not cowards. But we want to tell the IEBC don't dare steal the elections...Martha and Raila will take part in the elections and we shall win," he said.

He added that he only made the comments to prevent any rogue IEBC officials from influencing the results of the presidential elections with sinister motives. 

While alongside his running mate, Martha Karua and local leaders plus senior government representatives, Raila bragged that he has a huge fan base across the country which sets him apart from his presidential opponents. 

Ruto on his side, during a rally in Marsabit County on the same day, urged him to decide on whether he wanted to participate in the polls or not. 

"Stop giving us threats and ultimatums. The IEBC is an independent institution; it cannot take instructions from any candidate and they cannot blackmail the IEBC. 

"You are the people who said you wanted an electronic voter register. In 2017 you went to court so that we can have an electronic register...now you want to tell us that you want a manual register, please make up your mind," he said.