IEBC blames server problem for increased rejected votes

Isaack Hassan, IEBC chairman, said there was no hacking into the system and the multi layered protection had not been compromised despite widespread rumours.

Hassan says the system experienced a “database server query problem” resulting from high traffic leading to the crash and overall collapse of the electronic system.

The database server query problem is further blamed for affecting the software that resulted to multiplication of rejected votes by eight leading to the high number of those votes.

According to statistics from the first day of counting, rejected votes soared to six per cent, or 330,000 votes, with just less than half the votes counted before the electronic system was put aside and the commission resorted to manual tallying.

Since then the rejected votes has greatly come down raising queries from party agents and leading to the clarification from the chairman.

However, even as the commission seems to have dealt with another crisis a post-election grilling is looming with many Kenyans seeking answers to how the systems that cost the country more than KSh10 billion (US$115 million) failed from the onset.

According to Samuel Njuguna, a Nairobi lawyer, the commission will have to answer questions on subjects from procurement to the specifications of the tender that saw various firms get contracts related to biometric voter registration kits and other electronic systems.

“After the dust settles, we will take Hassan to a big task. Procurement of defective BVR which cost the taxpayer billions, and what was the specification in the tender? What made him prefer the Canadian firm even after being aware the same massively failed in Ghana? Who will refund the lost billions?” he asked.

For now though Kenyans are patiently waiting for a new president with the two main challengers Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his Deputy Uhuru Kenyatta still neck and neck with the latter the man to beat having taken an early lead.