By ALLAN KISIA and Michael Wesonga
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is in the process of acquiring biometric solution kits in preparation for voter registration.
IEBC is in the final stages of securing 9, 750 voter registration kits.
“The commission is concluding the tender and is currently carrying out due diligence on the technicality of qualified firms,” IEBC said in a letter to Indian High Commissioner.
In the letter, CEO James Oswago noted that one of the firms qualified is from India and is called 4G Identity Solutions Private Limited.
The commission wrote to confirm the existence of the firm, nature of business it carries, financial capabilities, legal status and litigation history if any.
Another firm that qualified was Symphony, a Kenyan company based in Nairobi. The Registrar of Companies noted that Symphony Limited was registered as a private company on October 15, 1986.
In a letter by State Counsel Wilson Rading for Registrar of Companies, it was noted that the company has three directors. Twenty-eight companies tendered to supply Biometric Voter Registration.
The kits accurately capture unique physical features of an individual in addition to his democratic data. The system seeks to curb double voter registration as well as prevent incidences of voter fraud.
Countries such as Nigeria, Ghana and Democratic Republic of Congo have already adopted the fingerprint scanning technology to help prevent electoral fraud.
Like Kenya, these countries share a history of double voter registration, and varying levels of disputes about election results.
Even though Ghana’s 2008 elections were deemed free and fair by international observers, politicians expressed concern about foreign and underage voters.
However, the two companies that qualified for the tender have been dogged with controversies.
Political sanity
4G Identity Solutions was rated poorly during preliminary evaluation due to lack of experience and lack of solid financial base.
Symphony on the other hand was shortlisted despite the fact that its ownership is shared with Computer Applications Ltd, a company blacklisted by Parliament from doing any business with the Government in mid 1990’s. It was equally rated poorly for lack of experience, capacity and competence in carrying out Biometric Voter Registration.
Meanwhile, the National, Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) will monitor political parties in the run up to General Election.
The commission said this will be a stopgap measure to maintain political sanity. “This is meant to protect political integrity of the various politicians and their party,” said commissioner Lawrence Bomett.
Bomett said although political parties were free to compete in elections, they must safeguard peace at all costs. “The commission shall grab any opportunity to preach peace throughout the country and everywhere including in political party platforms, but this will not compromise our integrity to political inclinations,” said Bomett in Eldoret.
