The ICT Authority (ICTA) on Tuesday, July 12 announced that it will deploy a 24/7 command center to monitor network coverage nationwide during the August 9 polls.
While speaking during the ongoing National Elections Conference hosted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), ICTA Acting CEO Kipronoh Ronoh, said the command center is part of measures they have put in place to ensure there are no technological hitches during the election period.
Moreover, Kipronoh pointed out that the Authority is committed to facilitating efficiency and transparency of the polls with IEBC relying on network availability to transmit scanned copies of statutory election result forms.
“The command center will look at networks across the country, and in case of any interruption they report and we act effectively to ensure that such faults are repaired,” Kipronoh said.
Furthermore, Kipronoh stated that ICTA have security actors on board to prevent vandalization of technology infrastructure or any physical interference during elections.
“We have put up a team with the Ministry of Interior to ensure that all 9000 km of fibre and corridor are protected during and after the elections,” he said.
In addition, the ICTA acting CEO further confirmed that there will be no interruption of the network during elections, adding that the authority intended to achieve seamless connectivity by integrating ICT officers, maintenance and security teams.
Likewise, IEBC CEO Hussein Marjan on his part reported that they will use alternative technologies such as satellite modems to transmit results in 1,111 polling stations without 3G or 4G network.
According to Marjan, each of the Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits will be equipped with 2 power banks to ensure that they transmit the results continuously. He then stated that IEBC will not use smartphones to transmit results.
“These are the same devices we used in 2017 and most officials also took part in the last election, this gives us assurance that things will be better this time,” Marjan said.
