Why Over One Million Voter Records Have Issues- Audit Report

IEBC now says more than one million voter records have issues, according to a preliminary report by audit firm KPMG.

The audit on the IEBC register of voters started on April 7, at a time when the continuous registration of new voters was ongoing.

The preliminary report has now revealed that at least 1, 118, 588 voter records might be struck out, ahead of the August 9 polls.

In a statement on Wednesday evening, the IEBC said 246,465 records are of deceased voters.

Also unearthed include some 481,711 duplicate records and 226, 143 voters registered with invalid identification documents.

The identification documents are either IDs or passports.

IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati said the documents have to be, “addressed prior to certification and publishing of the register.”

“Previously, the Commission had announced that it would certify and publish the register of voters on or before 9th June 2022. However, due to implementation of preliminary audit findings on the register, the Commission has decided to address the findings prior to certifying the register for publication on/or before 20th June 2022,” he said.

IEBC will receive the final report on June 6.

Chebukati said once they receive the report, the commission will engage stakeholders on the final register of voters on June 17.

“There are claims that have been made from the verification process that called for updates to the register. We expect that by the time we issue our final report, we can confirm that we are comfortable with the implementation of the recommendations made,” he said.

This comes amidst concerns of voters from certain regions being moved without their consent, claims the electoral body has refuted.

The concerns had been raised by Deputy President William Ruto who expressed the same to various stakeholders including the European Union.

DP’s United Democratic Alliance party also wrote to the electoral body over the same concerns.

“The commission assures Kenyans that their data is intact. That the ongoing process is to ensure we have a clean register before election. Let’s not talk about one million names missing, there is no such thing,” Chebukati said on June 2.

“The one million names we are talking about is for those who applied for transfers and we are undergoing the process of ensuring the proper transfers are effected.”

Meanwhile, Chebukati in an address to journalists on Wednesday revealed that the commission had received 160 disputes following the conclusion of the registration of aspirants for the various elective seats.

The hearing of the various complaints is set to start this Friday.

“The dispute resolutions come immediately after registration of candidates. Registration was finalized yesterday countrywide. So far, we have received 160 disputes which have been filed with the commission. The process of hearing them will begin on June 10,” he explained.

He said the commission will open a 10-day window for aggrieved aspirants to lodge their complaints with the IEBC Dispute Resolution Committee.

“Some individuals may want to go to court but come to the end of this month, we shall be proceeding to prepare the ballot papers,” he said.

On Thursday, he said the electoral body shall conduct a simulation of the technology to be used during the August 9 elections.