Senior Azimio ICT experts differ with Raila over calls to open IEBC servers
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Azimio ICT experts in the August 2022 general elections differ with Raila over calls to open IEBC servers
Azimio ICT experts in the August 2022 general elections differ with Raila over calls to open IEBC servers.
On May 2, the two senior-most information, communication, and technology (ICT) experts for Azimio la Umoja fiercely disputed over Raila Odinga’s requests for access to the servers of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
George Njoroge and John Walubengo, read from different scripts when they appeared on Spice FM to discuss the nitty gritty of opening the IEBC servers as demanded by their client, the Azimio la Umoja Coalition.
Njoroge and Walubengo were each tasked with informing Kenyans on the meaning of a server, its function, the prerequisites for accessing the IEBC servers as Raila desired, and whether there were any alternatives to gaining access to the storage systems.
Njoroge, who picked the first set of questions, explained that, as demanded by Raila, the content of IEBC servers would demonstrate who voted, but not who they voted for, where they voted from, how the voters were identified and those who could not be identified digitally.
“A separate report was supposed to be transmitted regarding the particular voters that could not be identified digitally.
“What we found out is that there were two sets of data – the actual data about the particulars of the voters and the log data, which were basically timestamp tracks. The general presumption is that IEBC would be the custodian of the servers and the data therein,” Njoroge stated.
Journalist Eric Latiff passed the same question to Walubengo, inquiring, “On the results side, what would be in these servers?”
Walubengo immediately disagreed with his fellow experts, who shared much in common regarding their political and technological perspectives.
“Njoroge and I are techies, but I have a different analogy of IEBC servers and their role in the last election.
“At the risk of confusing listeners, I don’t want to imagine that the IEBC setup is similar to the Central Bank of Kenya.
While disagreeing with Njoroge, Walubengo stated that the most authentic way to ascertain the veracity of results is not to go to the servers but to check what the results were at polling stations.
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“There is a possibility that you can cheat at the server, but it is very easy to flag that at the source, which is why the Maina Kiai case speaks about the results being at the polling stations,” Walubengo stated.
The sharp divergence in opinion flared as the two sought to drive their points home amidst a Press Corps that seemed eager to learn more than they could in an hour.
“I have known John for more than 20 years, and we wrote the ICT policy together in 2005, and I would not call him a flyby night but the issue here is a question of interpretation of exactly what the actions undertaken by IEBC officials meant,” Njoroge attempted to calm temperatures.
According to Njoroge, IEBC should grant server access since manual verification would be tedious and financially demanding. Yet, the results could still be manipulated, unlike servers where computer logs would be used to verify authenticity.
“What is in doubt is the interpretation of the actions of those who were charged with the responsibility of managing the servers.
George Njoroge worked for Azimio la Umoja as an Electoral Technology Consultant ahead of the August 2022 General Election, which the coalition lost.
John Walubengo also served Raila Odinga as Director, Information Communication Technology and took part in the 2017 Election, which the former Prime Minster controversially lost to Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The Supreme Court, then led by Justice Willy Mutunga, overturned Uhuru’s win and ordered a re-run which Raila boycotted.
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