Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi has urged the next electoral commission to integrate technology into all the election processes fully.
The former Yatta MP noted that many countries worldwide have successfully delivered swift election results through a robust digitization of their election processes.
He emphasized that Kenya could follow the same path by implementing an aggressive digital transformation of voter registration, voting, and election result transmission to enhance transparency and accountability.
"In many parts of the world, voters cast their ballots in the morning, and results are announced by evening. Kenya can take up this challenge and achieve the same if only we are focused on ensuring fairness in the election process," Mwangangi said.
In an interview with The Star, Mwangangi urged the incoming chairperson and commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to adopt innovative solutions.
"The priority of the next IEBC should be delivering credible, free, fair, and transparent elections in a timely manner by embracing technology. This will eliminate suspicions and restore public confidence," he stated.
The process of selecting the next IEBC leadership is currently underway, with interviews for the chairperson concluding on March 26 and those for commission members expected to end by April 24.
Kenya’s election process is not yet fully digitized, as the law still provides for a manual system in voter registration, voting, counting, and tallying.
While results transmission is digital, returning officers are required to verify physical forms, which slows down the process with presidential results coming out as early as seven days or more.
Mwangangi, an international relations expert, asserted that Kenya could achieve a fully digitized election system if the IEBC took the lead.
"The incoming commissioners must prioritize digitizing the election process to ensure a fair and just system that upholds the will of Kenyans," he said.
"We have faced challenges in the past, but this time, the commissioners must fulfil their mandate by collaborating with all stakeholders to deliver a free and credible election."
Mwangangi added that the new IEBC team will have its work cut out and must uphold the Constitution of Kenya by strictly adhering to its provisions.
He emphasized the importance of learning from past experiences to maintain the country’s stability.
