EU puts pressure on IEBC to publish result forms 34A

European Union chief observer Marietje Schhake(left) and her deputy Hannah Roberts addressing the press on just concluded general election at a Nairobi hotel on 10/8/17-Beverlyne Musili

The European Union has asked the electoral agency to ensure all result forms on the disputed presidential election are published promptly.

EU's Election Observation Mission (EOM) yesterday joined the list of parties pushing the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to make all the documents available for public scrutiny.

EU chief observer Marietja Schaake said making the forms available would help address credibility concerns on the elections whose outcome was declared last week.

"The availability of result forms at all levels enables trust by allowing all stakeholders to have confidence in and insight into the totals announced. The EU EOM therefore calls on the IEBC to continue to publish all results forms online promptly," said Ms Schaake.

The call comes on the backdrop of an admission by the commission that it could not immediately furnish the Opposition with 40,883 form 34As.

Form 34As are generated at the polling stations and are used to produce form 34Bs at the 290 constituency level, which are used to declare the presidential results. Wednesday, IEBC said all form 34Bs are now available to the public.

Presidential results

"The commission is in a position to provide all the requested form 34Bs immediately. We are, however, not able to provide all form 34As at the moment but the same shall be availed to you as soon as possible," said IEBC Chief Executive Officer Ezra Chiloba in response to NASA's demands.

The commission has found itself in an awkward position as Kenyans shared some of the forms it uploaded on its website – some of which are signed but have no results for any candidate while on others, the results were captured on a page of an exercise book.

"Online availability of the 34B forms, as well as the remaining 34A forms – containing individual polling station results – would enable all stakeholders to examine the accuracy of the announced results and point to any possible anomalies," said EU in a statement on Wednesday.

The group said it was important that the results be made available in good time to allow for court petitions by the aggrieved parties.

The poll results were declared on Friday, meaning that any Kenyan planning to challenge the outcome has until tomorrow to move to the Supreme Court.

The EU further said it was disturbed by cases of violence and deaths that have taken place following the declaration of the results.

The mission has also criticised the State over its crackdown on key non-governmental organisations.

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