IEBC defends Presidential tallying system, wants Omtatah-Kalonzo petition dismissed

The Commission argues that the national tallying process is lawful, transparent, and firmly anchored in the Constitution.

IEBC maintains that the National Tallying Centre does not alter election results but strictly verifies and aggregates figures transmitted from constituency tallying centres.

According to the Commission, the presidential results declaration follows a clear, multi-tiered process that begins at the polling station level.

Presiding officers, IEBC states, are responsible for counting votes at polling stations and transmitting results both electronically and physically.

These results are then received and collated by returning officers at constituency tallying centres, who announce the outcomes before forwarding them to the national tallying centre.

The Commission emphasises that the role of the national tallying centre is limited to verifying results against original statutory forms to ensure accuracy and consistency before the final declaration is made by the chairperson.

IEBC further told the court that this framework has previously been upheld by the Supreme Court of Kenya, which clarified that the national tallying centre serves as a verification point rather than a platform for altering results.

Dismissing allegations of possible manipulation, the Commission argues that the system incorporates multiple safeguards, including scrutiny of statutory forms and secure electronic transmission of results.

It adds that the entire electoral process from voter registration and voting to counting, tallying, and declaration is guided by constitutional provisions and supported by detailed electoral laws and regulations designed to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections.

IEBC has termed the petition speculative and based on a misinterpretation of established legal and electoral procedures, urging the court to throw it out.