PROFILE: What we know about IEBC's ICT manager Michael Ouma

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has been put to task to guarantee that the upcoming General Election will be credible and seamless, from the casting of votes at poll stations to the digital transmission and streaming of results without technical delays.

For that to be implemented, the electoral board will engage all its arms of operation to allay any possible hitches.

It narrows down to the man at the core of the technical task, IEBC's Director of Information Communication and Technology (ICT), Michael Ouma.

Ouma assumed office in March 11, 2022 after it was left vacant following the mysterious murder of Chris Msando in 2017.

Here is what we know about Michael Ouma, the man on the hot seat:

Ouma holds a Bachelor of Technology Electrical & Communications Engineering degree from Moi University and an MBA from the University of Nairobi.

He also holds membership of the Computer Society of Kenya (CSK), Kenya Institute of Management (KIM) and Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA).

Prior to his promotion as Director for ICT, he worked as the ICT specialist for IEBC.

Ouma boasts a 10-year-experience in elections technology projects management and 20 years in the IT industry.

According to a statement from IEBC, he was part of 11 ICT specialists led by then director of ICT and IEBC regional ICT officers across Kenya in 2015, who were trained under a joint partnership between IEBC and the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB).

The successful completion of the training marked the beginning of the implementation process of an MOU signed on March 31, 2015 between the IEBC and A-WEB towards the enhancement of the electoral systems in Kenya.

Ouma and his colleagues were taken through a detailed and customized program designed to address priority key areas jointly identified as challenges in the electoral ICT in Kenya. 

The training program presented an opportunity for the participants to engage with electoral ICT experts on specific topics of concern. 

Among the key discussions held throughout the training program was to mitigate the electoral technology hiccups witnessed during the 2013 General Elections.