UDA presidential running mate Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed reports that he was identified manually after the Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kit failed to identify him biometrically.
While calling out Nation over the report, Gachagua stated that he was identified as a voter using the biometric system before casting his ballot at Sagana Primary School in Mathira, Nyeri County on Tuesday morning.
“Nation media you have run a smear campaign with Kinoti for the last 3 years! Even as I voted in the full glare of media you are running a false narrative that I was identified manually. How low can you sink? You have lowered yourself to the level of gutter press and yellow journalism,” Gachagua wrote on Facebook.
Addressing reporters shortly after voting, Gachagua said he was certain that the IEBC system is full-proof based on what he witnessed.
“We are very happy and extremely impressed by the preparedness of IEBC. The voting process is seamless and in instances where voters cannot be identified biometrically like the case of my 91-year-old aunty, the process they have taken is full proof,” he said.
“It is impossible what I have witnessed to introduce dead voters or stuff ballot papers. I am certain the will of the people by this evening will prevail.”
On Monday, the Court of Appeal suspended a High Court ruling directing the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to allow the use of manual voter registers in polling stations during the August 9th elections.
The order followed a petition filed by the UDA party, which argued that the use of the said register will jeopardize the integrity of the elections.
The Deputy President William Ruto-led party said IEBC should follow a 2017 Appeals Court ruling requiring the commission to use the printed register of voters only when the KIEMS kits completely fail.
