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Polls body warned against dropping manual register

Polls body warned against dropping manual register
Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit speaking to the media during a previous event. PD/file
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Anglican Church of Kenya Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit has cautioned the electoral agency against abandoning the physical register in the forthcoming General Election.

Ole Sapit argued that move by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to fully rely on electronic system could turn out disastrous if it fails.

“The commission needs to keep both the physical and electronic register so that we ensure the results being transmitted are verifiable,” said Sapit.

Speaking in Nakuru,  accompanied by ACK Nakuru Bishop Joseph Muchai,  yesterday, Sapit revealed that being a high-octane election, the commission should assure Kenyans of delivering a credible election to avert any electoral violence.

IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati had explained that the decision  to ditch the physical register for a digital one was geared to guard against malpractices witnessed in the 2017 polls.

Digital one

He further called on leaders not to polarise the country, stating that the recent intolerance witnessed in different parts of the country could be avoided if peace was preached in their campaigns.

“We have seen the NCIC report that indicated a number of hotspot counties. We  need to ensure we do not reginalise politics for the sake of peace,” he said.

According to Sapit, Kenyans have a democratic right to scrutinise leaders’ manifestos during the campaigns and put them on task when they get into office to ensure accountability.

“I believe all Kenyans need is peace and a conducive environment to conduct their business,” Sapit said.

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