A senior official of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) was secretly recorded discussing the 2013 presidential election, casting doubt on the credibility of the process.
The recording, obtained by the Sunday Nation, reveals the official expressing concerns over the voter register, electronic systems, and the transmission of results.
Election Irregularities ¶
The official claims that the commission was infiltrated before the election and that there may have been manipulation of electronic data. The official also alleges that one of the alleged moles was recruited from a state agency with the help of powerful individuals.
The official raised concerns over the integrity of the data with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, which was assisting the IEBC in setting up the system. However, the official was assured that all was well.
Pattern of Results ¶
The official questions the authenticity of the results, stating that the pattern of results was too regular to be true. The official also notes that the high turnout in some areas could not be explained.
The recording suggests that the official was willing to advise the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) on the best strategy to win the election petition. The official urged Cord to focus on specific issues during the petition and suggested that the courts could compel one of the IEBC's senior colleagues to testify.
Response from IEBC ¶
The IEBC Communications Manager, Tabitha Mutemi, stated that the commission could not comment on the matter without listening to the recording. The IEBC chairman, Issack Hassan, has previously insisted that the election process was free and fair.
