Kenya has enjoyed its almost 60 years of independence which has seen growth in almost every sphere across the nation. 58 years later, we have our own constitution promulgated in 2010 that Outlines the rules and regulations on how politics of are to be Kenya are conducted, the rights and freedoms of citizens, and the controls against abuse of power by those in leadership.
According to the constitution, after every five years, on the second Tuesday of August of the election year, the citizens of Kenya take part in the election process that would determine the next government. Here, Kenyan registered voters exercise their electoral rights of choosing their preferred political candidates in 6 leadership dockets as highlighted in the constitution. They include The President, County Governor, County Senate Member, Member of Parliament, Women representative, and Member of the County Assembly.
From the 2022 IEBC register, there are a total of 22,152,144 registered voters in Kenya. These are the people who will vote for their preferred political aspirants.
This year, on the 9th of August, Kenyans will go to the polls. Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission IEBC has gazetted over 27,400 polling centers from which millions of Kenyans will cast their votes.
Once the voting process is over, votes will be counted and results are transmitted to the respective Constituency Tallying Centres and later on to the National Tallying Centre.
This is made possible through the collaboration of IEBC and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).
Roles of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in the upcoming General Election
Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) play a very key role in the election process. MNOs ensure that results are transmitted in a fast, secure, and trackable manner. According to the Election Act 2011, IEBC, the body that conducts Kenya’s elections, is required to contract Mobile network operators (MNOs) for Results Transmission System (RTS).
In this effect, the IEBC IEBC floated a tender in April to the MNOs to provide the connectivity services for the RTS services that include:
2 fiber links to connect the IEBC Primary and Secondary data centers
3G/4G Internet modems with data bundles
3G/4G via sim cards with data bundles (including roaming sim cards for diaspora polling centers)
Internet connectivity at the National Tallying Center
Provision of satellite Network
That said, It is important for us to know and equally understand the roles Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Kenya play in an election, particularly during the incoming 2022 election.
Secure Networks
Mobile network operators only provide a secure network to IEBC which not even themselves can see what information or data that is transmitted in the security line. A simulation exercise has been conducted by both parties for this effect.
The election act also stipulates that Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) should ensure the security, traceability, and availability of their network during the election period. This will prevent the emergence of loopholes that would otherwise make the exercise unfair when vices like rigging come to play.
KIEMS Kits
Each KIEMS kit comes with two SIM cards from different operators included. The two SIM slots will guarantee fast connections. Depending on the location, a certain provider’s network might be stronger than another’s. The KIEMS kit will be able to choose the strongest network and use it to transmit results.
Here’s what’s also interesting with the SIM cards and the KIEMS kit:
A modem kit is inserted into the KIEMS system. Each kit has a modem supporting at least two operators. This is a redundancy measure to ensure transmission doesn’t fail.
The Communication Authority of Kenya has set aside a unique numbering code, that’s for election data transmission only. These SIM cards only transmit data, and cannot be used elsewhere. The SIM cards will also be switched off, to be used again only in future elections.
The KIEMS kits also enjoy a dedicated network (express highway) to Bomas of Kenya. This ensures no congestion as could happen with normal network services, especially during such big exercises.
Network Coverage
Kenya enjoys over 95% 4G/3G network coverage across the country according to the Communication Authorities of Kenya. The IEBC, therefore, has an upper hand when it comes to using the Results Transmission Systems.
In the remaining areas with little to no network coverage, IEBC has deployed satellite network technology to transmit the election results and as of April, everything was tested and set.
The Communication Authorities of Kenya mandate that once the results transmission is done, the SIM cards will be switched off and be kept up until the next elections.
It is also important to note that the Mobile Network Operators are contracted by the IEBC to offer connectivity services alone. They don’t get to see or interact with any data streamed through their connectivity channels. Their mandate ends once the data is all transmitted.
