January 2017 - KICTANet

Re: [kictanet] Manual Backup and Elections 2017: Is the CS ICT Honest
by Barrack Otieno 04 Jan '17

04 Jan '17

Technology as a hindrance to voter rights? Interesting conversation going on. Regards On Jan 3, 2017 1:55 PM, "Watila Alex via kictanet" < kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: iebc electronic technology regulations http://www.iebc. or.ke/index.php/2015-01-15-11-10-24/research-publications/ item/iebc-ict-regulations-on-use-of-technology-in-elections Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android <https://overview.mail.yahoo.com/mobile/?.src=Android> On Tue, 3 Jan, 2017 at 10:38, Watila Alex <awatila(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: SK Macharia: Where there’s no mobile telephones,you can use satellite phones and they are cheaper #ElectionLawsDebate https://t.co/V26IDADqCv https://twitter.com/citizentvkenya/status/816184858124943360 Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android <https://overview.mail.yahoo.com/mobile/?.src=Android> On Mon, 2 Jan, 2017 at 9:47, Emmanuel Chebukati via kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: Listers, Here is my ideal vision of how the election process should run which may also serve as a summary to this discussion: Step Event Description 1 *Voter Registration* *Technology* Biometric data is collected. These systems are off-grid hence no network connectivity is required. 2 *Register Clean Up and Distribution* *Technology* After registration, all data should be collated by IEBC to check for redundancies and irregularities. Voters with problematic details should be contacted. Before the election, the complete voter register should be split per-polling station and each chunk copied onto a device. For now, let us call and picture this device as an “external hard disk”. The “hard disk” shall contain the biometric data required to identify a voter at only one polling station – where they registered. After copying, the data on the disk should be hashed and compared with the hash on IEBC servers for integrity purposes. This will be useful on election day. 3 *Verify Voters on Election Day* *Technology* Before election day, these “hard disks” should be securely distributed to their respective locations. Before the start of voting, the data on the disk should again be hashed and compared with the hash on IEBC servers. If the hashes are the same, the register is clean and voter verification can begin. If the hashes differ, they should try a backup disk. If the hashes still differ, that polling station will be on hold as they await a fresh voter register to be transmitted from IEBC HQ. 4 *Cast Vote* *Manual* Voters pick ballot papers for the different posts and cast their secret ballot for each. 5 *Count Votes* *Manual* The key here is that the total number of votes cast should not exceed the number of voters that the biometric devices verified. 6 *Transmission of Results* *Technology* After all parties and agents agree on the results, they should be manually entered onto the “hard disk” for transmission. Again, once entered, this data should be hashed. If the polling station has network connectivity, the results should immediately be sent together with the hash. IEBC then verify the hash with the data received and if they match, they approve the results. If the polling station lacks network connectivity, the “hard disk” should be physically and securely transported to the nearest point with network connectivity for transmission from there. After all, the constitution speaks of polling station > constituency > county-level. Agents should be involved until they see “Successfully transmitted” on the screen confirming receipt of results by IEBC. With proper testing (load testing, penetration testing, etc) staff training and sufficient voter education, the above should work seamlessly to deliver a free, fair and credible election. The most effective way to test is by carrying out at least two mock elections/simulations with dummy data to prepare all parties for any eventuality and equip them with the knowledge of how to react. I wish you all a prosperous new year. Regards, Emmanuel Chebukati On Fri, Dec 30, 2016 at 11:30 AM, Odhiambo Washington via kictanet < kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > Dear Listers, > > I am at that position where I feel very lost. In fact, I feel like I am > quite detached from the reality. > > All along, I have keenly considered this matter that seems to have divided > the country down the middle: *Manual Backup* during the 2017 voting > process. From the Jubilee/govt side this is a do or die and so it must be > there. This govt side seems hell-bent on confusing the masses, as well as > the experts like the ICT Community. From the Opposition side, the agenda > seems to be very clear - that of ensuring integrity of the Voters Register > and stopping 'ghost voters' from ever casting their votes. > > That brings us to the famous acronyms - BVI (Biometric Voter Register) / > BVI (Biometric Voter Identification). > Having been to a Voter Registration Centre (later to become a Polling > Station) to register as a voter, I did look at the equipment in use for the > registration process. I saw the laptop which was fitted with a camera and > fingerprints scanner. All these require power to run. I did not dwell on > how they were powered, but probably there was a battery backup somewhere > (besides the electricity) given that they needed to run for a whole day for > several days during the voter registration process. When it comes to the > Elections, they only need to run for about 11 hours. My point here is that > of *Backup Power* should it be that there's electricity blackout and the > built-in batteries can't last the whole day. That backup is very important. > > However, I did not see any piece of equipment which could suggest that the > equipment in use required any form of connectivity back to some central > server in order to function! Which now brings me to the currently national > debate - Manual Backup during the Poll Day. What is it? Was the CS honest > with his presentation before the Senate/Amos Wako committee yesterday? Does > the CS himself really believe in the content of his presentation? I am > asking that because I watched him and I don't believe him. I actually think > he mislead the committee, and hence the nation at large. > > Someone please prove me wrong. I am at that point where I believe that the > BVR/BVI does NOT require any form of connectivity and so this Manual Backup > being touted by the ruling coalition side, strongly supported by the ICT > CS is a big lie. WHY? > > My very first answer: Simply put, *when there was no requirement for a > manual backup during voter registration, it goes without saying that there > is NO NEED for on the polling day.* > > > 1. For the issue that is in contention - BVR (used for BVI during polling) > - this is a database that can be (and should be) statically stored on the > equipment for each polling station. We are not supposed to rely on the > Mobile Network to access this voters database. And every polling station > can have two/three laptops/Biometrics scanner/Backup batteries to ensure > that the voter identification doesn't fail. > Some excuse has been fronted about some voters being mechanics, such that > their fingerprints wouldn't be recognized by the BVI systems hence need for > manual identification. My take on that is that every voter must carry their > voter's card on that day. The clerks can check that card number against the > electronic system - enter it, and it will bring the person's picture, ID > number, etc and let him cast his ballot. > > 2. For electronics results transmission (ERT), this is not even necessary > in the first place. We can have the results collated/announced at the > tallying centres after being certified - forms 36A, and such. However, if > the ERT must be done, the data footprint is so tiny that a 2G network can > be used. Besides, it can be an SMS based system, which doesn't require 3G > or VSAT. The results data isn't that large - it can't be in Megabytes to be > sincere. Well, VSAT can be used if they MUST, but this is after the voting > process itself is complete, has nothing to do with BVI. > > The ERT and the BVR/BVI are two distinct systems. That is what I want to > believe. The ERT gets feedback from a manual process - of voters casting > their vote, clerks/agents counting, verifying, and certifying, filling > requisite forms then communicating the same via some customized phones > which are programmed to communicate to a backend system. Am I right on > that?? > > Now the big question here is, where do we need this much touted manual > backup where network connectivity is being used as the major reason??? > > (a) Citing terrorism and the possibility of Al Shabaab knocking off base > stations seems like well thought out lie meant to cover our eyes! If they > attacked an area, I doubt there will be voting in the 1st place. > And even so, the network connectivity is not required for BVI so > there is no disenfranchising anyone if there is no manual backup (whatever > that is). > > (b) Citing hacking is neither here nor there for a BVR/BVI system because > it's not being accessed live during the voting. It's a static database, > unique to the polling station, resident on the laptop used by the clerks. > The only hacking that can be done then can only be by an "insider". Quoting > Victor Kapiyo from Social Media, "*I guess it's a question of trust. > Trust in systems and in trustworthy people to do the right thing. For > M-Pesa, or KCSE results, we trust both. For IEBC, I guess the jury is still > out*." > > The main issue is not allowing the dead voters to rise again to vote in > the presidential vote, then disappear. So the important component here is > the BVR/BVI, the credibility of the register and hence the vote. > > At what point does the BVI system require this connectivity they are > talking about, which then necessitates the so called "manual backup"? > > Did the CS ICT lie to the Senate?? Did the CAK lie to the Senate in > supporting the lie from the CS?? > > There is insincerity in this whole debate about 'manual backup' and the > ICT community seems to either support it or is simply lost in the pool of > confusion being peddled by politicians. > > > > > > -- > Best regards, > Odhiambo WASHINGTON, > Nairobi,KE > +254 7 3200 0004/+254 7 2274 3223 > "Oh, the cruft." > > ______________________________ _________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ mailman/listinfo/kictanet > <https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet> > > Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ > mailman/options/kictanet/ echebukati%40gmail.com > <https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/echebukati%40gmail.com> > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform > for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and > regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT > sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors > online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, > share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do > not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. > _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ mailman/options/kictanet/otieno.barrack%40gmail.com The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.

4 3

Fwd: Memorandum on Election law (Amendment) Bill 2016 from the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet)
by Barrack Otieno 04 Jan '17

04 Jan '17

Dear Listers, The previous email missed one attachment, herewith please find the complete memorandum and letter to the senate. Best Regards

5 4

Re: [kictanet] Manual Backup and Elections 2017: Is the CS ICT Honest
by waudo siganga 03 Jan '17

03 Jan '17

For your information - tender IEBC Tender NO.IEBC/32/2016-2017 for the Supply of an Integrated Electoral Management System closing on 9th January W.

1 0

Manual Backup and Elections 2017: Is the CS ICT Honest
by Odhiambo Washington 03 Jan '17

03 Jan '17

Dear Listers, I am at that position where I feel very lost. In fact, I feel like I am quite detached from the reality. All along, I have keenly considered this matter that seems to have divided the country down the middle: *Manual Backup* during the 2017 voting process. From the Jubilee/govt side this is a do or die and so it must be there. This govt side seems hell-bent on confusing the masses, as well as the experts like the ICT Community. From the Opposition side, the agenda seems to be very clear - that of ensuring integrity of the Voters Register and stopping 'ghost voters' from ever casting their votes. That brings us to the famous acronyms - BVI (Biometric Voter Register) / BVI (Biometric Voter Identification). Having been to a Voter Registration Centre (later to become a Polling Station) to register as a voter, I did look at the equipment in use for the registration process. I saw the laptop which was fitted with a camera and fingerprints scanner. All these require power to run. I did not dwell on how they were powered, but probably there was a battery backup somewhere (besides the electricity) given that they needed to run for a whole day for several days during the voter registration process. When it comes to the Elections, they only need to run for about 11 hours. My point here is that of *Backup Power* should it be that there's electricity blackout and the built-in batteries can't last the whole day. That backup is very important. However, I did not see any piece of equipment which could suggest that the equipment in use required any form of connectivity back to some central server in order to function! Which now brings me to the currently national debate - Manual Backup during the Poll Day. What is it? Was the CS honest with his presentation before the Senate/Amos Wako committee yesterday? Does the CS himself really believe in the content of his presentation? I am asking that because I watched him and I don't believe him. I actually think he mislead the committee, and hence the nation at large. Someone please prove me wrong. I am at that point where I believe that the BVR/BVI does NOT require any form of connectivity and so this Manual Backup being touted by the ruling coalition side, strongly supported by the ICT CS is a big lie. WHY? My very first answer: Simply put, *when there was no requirement for a manual backup during voter registration, it goes without saying that there is NO NEED for on the polling day.* 1. For the issue that is in contention - BVR (used for BVI during polling) - this is a database that can be (and should be) statically stored on the equipment for each polling station. We are not supposed to rely on the Mobile Network to access this voters database. And every polling station can have two/three laptops/Biometrics scanner/Backup batteries to ensure that the voter identification doesn't fail. Some excuse has been fronted about some voters being mechanics, such that their fingerprints wouldn't be recognized by the BVI systems hence need for manual identification. My take on that is that every voter must carry their voter's card on that day. The clerks can check that card number against the electronic system - enter it, and it will bring the person's picture, ID number, etc and let him cast his ballot. 2. For electronics results transmission (ERT), this is not even necessary in the first place. We can have the results collated/announced at the tallying centres after being certified - forms 36A, and such. However, if the ERT must be done, the data footprint is so tiny that a 2G network can be used. Besides, it can be an SMS based system, which doesn't require 3G or VSAT. The results data isn't that large - it can't be in Megabytes to be sincere. Well, VSAT can be used if they MUST, but this is after the voting process itself is complete, has nothing to do with BVI. The ERT and the BVR/BVI are two distinct systems. That is what I want to believe. The ERT gets feedback from a manual process - of voters casting their vote, clerks/agents counting, verifying, and certifying, filling requisite forms then communicating the same via some customized phones which are programmed to communicate to a backend system. Am I right on that?? Now the big question here is, where do we need this much touted manual backup where network connectivity is being used as the major reason??? (a) Citing terrorism and the possibility of Al Shabaab knocking off base stations seems like well thought out lie meant to cover our eyes! If they attacked an area, I doubt there will be voting in the 1st place. And even so, the network connectivity is not required for BVI so there is no disenfranchising anyone if there is no manual backup (whatever that is). (b) Citing hacking is neither here nor there for a BVR/BVI system because it's not being accessed live during the voting. It's a static database, unique to the polling station, resident on the laptop used by the clerks. The only hacking that can be done then can only be by an "insider". Quoting Victor Kapiyo from Social Media, "*I guess it's a question of trust. Trust in systems and in trustworthy people to do the right thing. For M-Pesa, or KCSE results, we trust both. For IEBC, I guess the jury is still out*." The main issue is not allowing the dead voters to rise again to vote in the presidential vote, then disappear. So the important component here is the BVR/BVI, the credibility of the register and hence the vote. At what point does the BVI system require this connectivity they are talking about, which then necessitates the so called "manual backup"? Did the CS ICT lie to the Senate?? Did the CAK lie to the Senate in supporting the lie from the CS?? There is insincerity in this whole debate about 'manual backup' and the ICT community seems to either support it or is simply lost in the pool of confusion being peddled by politicians. -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254 7 3200 0004/+254 7 2274 3223 "Oh, the cruft."

11 12

Fwd: Memorandum on Election law (Amendment) Bill 2016 from the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet)
by Barrack Otieno 03 Jan '17

03 Jan '17

Listers, Attached please find the memorandum submitted to the Senate by the Kenya ICT Action Network on the amendment of electoral law. Happy New year Regards

1 0

Money in your phone: In name of BHIM, a new payments app | The Indian Express
by Ali Hussein 03 Jan '17

03 Jan '17

Listers Interesting development. India moved a step further to making their economy with a Government sponsored/owned Payment App called BHIM. The core aim is to ensure all citizen services government payment are made through this app. It takes the game one step further. One doesn't need a data plan to use this app especially in areas with super slow connectivity. Read on: http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/bhim-app-payments-cashless-onlin… Ali Hussein Principal Hussein & Associates +254 0713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought". ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi Sent from my iPad

2 1

Fwd: KDA's Draft Submission to the Senate Committee!
by Wycliff Ochieng 03 Jan '17

03 Jan '17

FYI, More input on manual voter back up. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho(a)yahoo.com> Date: Mon, Jan 2, 2017 at 11:27 PM Subject: KDA's Draft Submission to the Senate Committee! To: Friends of KDA <info(a)kenyadiasporaalliance.org> Hello Friends, Here is Draft 0 of what we plan to submit tomorrow. Please peruse and revert with any comments you may have, preferably ahead of 8am Kenya time as we plan to forward it to the Senate Committee when they commence seating at 9am. Thanks and kind regards, Shem Shem J. Ochuodho, MSc (Eng), PhD, LLD (Hon) Senior Advisor Ministry of Telecom & Postal Services Republic of South Sudan (RSS), Juba Author: Dawn of a Rainbow (2012) Cell: +211-955-021-040/+254-725-016679 Skype: shem.ochuodho

1 0

IFES Expulsion: Is Kenya hostile to Social Entrepreneurship?
by John Kieti 02 Jan '17

02 Jan '17

Happy New Year! Let us for a moment put aside the political undertone in the Expulsion of IFES. Let us consider only the technicalities involved. Apparently it is wrong that IFES is registered as a limited company, for it to appear to undertake public benefit kind of activities. Social enterprises by definition aim to achieve a social mission while applying commercial practices. Many tech entrepreneurs are attracted to this model especially where there are deep rooted social problems of concern to them. Still focussing on the technicalities rather than the electoral year context, does it make sense to force a commercial business to become an NGO once they are seen to undertake activities yielding public benefit? Best...

3 3

New Conversations: breeding a soon to be tech-wired-brain-dead generation
by WANGARI KABIRU 02 Jan '17

02 Jan '17

New Year Blessings! New year, new voices, new conversations! Where are Kenyan/African scientists and tech community in these conversations? While very well articulated on why we should adopt technologies and have increased dispersion for access i.e become consumers, we now must interrogate and holding to account on the adverse impact based on our realities; health, environmental etc. Will the class 1 laptops be opening up to breeding a soon to be tech-wired-brain-dead generation? What might be done about it?- What are the precautions by the manufacturers, ISPs, public health and educators, and parents. "The truth about mobile phone and wireless radiation" -- Dr Devra Davis | | | | | | | | | | | "The truth about mobile phone and wireless radiation" -- Dr Devra... "The truth about mobile phone and wireless radiation: what we know, what we need to find out, and what you ... | | | | http://ehtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Dr-Devra-Davis-Melb-Uni-Lectu… http://ehtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/NIEHS-transcript.pdf Blessed day, Regards/Wangari --- Pray God Bless. 2013Wangari circa - "Being of the Light, We are Restored Through Faith in Mind, Body and Spirit; We Manifest The Kingdom of God on Earth". Disconnect: The Truth About Cell Phone Radiation, What the Industry Has Done to Hide It, and How to Protect Your Family MP3 CD– Audiobook, MP3 Audio, Unabridged by Devra Davis (Author), Emily Durante (Narrator) Devra Davis presents a range of recent and long-suppressed research in this timely bombshell. Cell phone radiation is a national emergency. Stunningly, the most popular gadget of our age has now been shown to damage DNA, break down the brain's defenses, and reduce sperm count while increasing memory loss, the risk of Alzheimer's disease, and even cancer. The growing brains of children make them especially vulnerable. And half of the world's four billion cell phone users are under twenty. Davis, the founding director of the toxicology and environmental studies board at the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, takes listeners through the dark side of this trillion-dollar industry. Health experts have long been frozen out of policy-making decisions about cell phones; federal regulatory standards are set by the cell phone industry itself. Cell phone manufacturers have borrowed the playbook of the tobacco industry. One secret memo reveals their war plan against reports of cell phone dangers. Among a host of fascinating characters, Davis introduces Om P. Gandhi, a world expert on how cell phone radiation penetrates the human brain. Once a consultant to major cell phone companies, Gandhi now refuses to work with them. We also meet Franz Adlkofer, who led the multi-lab study that showed once and for all that brain cell DNA is unraveled by cell phone microwave radiation-and, as Davis dramatically portrays, it nearly cost him his career. As this eye-opening call to action shows, we can make safer cell phones now. Why would we put our children at risk of a devastating epidemic of brain illness in the years to come?

2 3

Re: [kictanet] Manual Backup and Elections 2017: Is the CS ICT Honest
by JImmy Gitonga 01 Jan '17

01 Jan '17

Thank you Odhiambo Washington, I have the same concerns myself. I reached the conclusion that it would be nice if "ICT Experts" could lay their hands on a BVI machine as well as a and show the rest of us what the problem really is. The ERT issue is a red herring. It has worked flawlessly in the bi-elections that have happened ever since. With PKI and 2 factor authentication, this can be solved for election day. I am sure Victor Kyalo and Joseph Mucheru could make this possible. Call it a "Kenyans as ICT stakeholders" meeting. All Listers with time will begin to be asked by their family or neighbours, what the issue really is. I, for one, do not want to echo the CS's words. I think the CS and the PS should help us help them. Otherwise they will be on their own when the political vultures come calling. Regards, Jimmy Gitonga > Message: 4 > Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2016 11:30:08 +0300 > From: Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo(a)gmail.com> > To: Kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: [kictanet] Manual Backup and Elections 2017: Is the CS ICT > Honest > Message-ID: > <CAAdA2WPFoRvjF5Bodk+sHb-P4_rUp2AXpA9Q3zAk-UR57cqwGw@mail. > gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Dear Listers, > > I am at that position where I feel very lost. In fact, I feel like I am > quite detached from the reality. > > All along, I have keenly considered this matter that seems to have divided > the country down the middle: *Manual Backup* during the 2017 voting > process. From the Jubilee/govt side this is a do or die and so it must be > there. This govt side seems hell-bent on confusing the masses, as well as > the experts like the ICT Community. From the Opposition side, the agenda > seems to be very clear - that of ensuring integrity of the Voters Register > and stopping 'ghost voters' from ever casting their votes. > > That brings us to the famous acronyms - BVI (Biometric Voter Register) / > BVI (Biometric Voter Identification). > Having been to a Voter Registration Centre (later to become a Polling > Station) to register as a voter, I did look at the equipment in use for the > registration process. I saw the laptop which was fitted with a camera and > fingerprints scanner. All these require power to run. I did not dwell on > how they were powered, but probably there was a battery backup somewhere > (besides the electricity) given that they needed to run for a whole day for > several days during the voter registration process. When it comes to the > Elections, they only need to run for about 11 hours. My point here is that > of *Backup Power* should it be that there's electricity blackout and the > built-in batteries can't last the whole day. That backup is very important. > > However, I did not see any piece of equipment which could suggest that the > equipment in use required any form of connectivity back to some central > server in order to function! Which now brings me to the currently national > debate - Manual Backup during the Poll Day. What is it? Was the CS honest > with his presentation before the Senate/Amos Wako committee yesterday? Does > the CS himself really believe in the content of his presentation? I am > asking that because I watched him and I don't believe him. I actually think > he mislead the committee, and hence the nation at large. > > Someone please prove me wrong. I am at that point where I believe that the > BVR/BVI does NOT require any form of connectivity and so this Manual Backup > being touted by the ruling coalition side, strongly supported by the ICT > CS is a big lie. WHY? > > My very first answer: Simply put, *when there was no requirement for a > manual backup during voter registration, it goes without saying that there > is NO NEED for on the polling day.* > > > 1. For the issue that is in contention - BVR (used for BVI during polling) > - this is a database that can be (and should be) statically stored on the > equipment for each polling station. We are not supposed to rely on the > Mobile Network to access this voters database. And every polling station > can have two/three laptops/Biometrics scanner/Backup batteries to ensure > that the voter identification doesn't fail. > Some excuse has been fronted about some voters being mechanics, such that > their fingerprints wouldn't be recognized by the BVI systems hence need for > manual identification. My take on that is that every voter must carry their > voter's card on that day. The clerks can check that card number against the > electronic system - enter it, and it will bring the person's picture, ID > number, etc and let him cast his ballot. > > 2. For electronics results transmission (ERT), this is not even necessary > in the first place. We can have the results collated/announced at the > tallying centres after being certified - forms 36A, and such. However, if > the ERT must be done, the data footprint is so tiny that a 2G network can > be used. Besides, it can be an SMS based system, which doesn't require 3G > or VSAT. The results data isn't that large - it can't be in Megabytes to be > sincere. Well, VSAT can be used if they MUST, but this is after the voting > process itself is complete, has nothing to do with BVI. > > The ERT and the BVR/BVI are two distinct systems. That is what I want to > believe. The ERT gets feedback from a manual process - of voters casting > their vote, clerks/agents counting, verifying, and certifying, filling > requisite forms then communicating the same via some customized phones > which are programmed to communicate to a backend system. Am I right on > that?? > > Now the big question here is, where do we need this much touted manual > backup where network connectivity is being used as the major reason??? > > (a) Citing terrorism and the possibility of Al Shabaab knocking off base > stations seems like well thought out lie meant to cover our eyes! If they > attacked an area, I doubt there will be voting in the 1st place. > And even so, the network connectivity is not required for BVI so there > is no disenfranchising anyone if there is no manual backup (whatever that > is). > > (b) Citing hacking is neither here nor there for a BVR/BVI system because > it's not being accessed live during the voting. It's a static database, > unique to the polling station, resident on the laptop used by the clerks. > The only hacking that can be done then can only be by an "insider". Quoting > Victor Kapiyo from Social Media, "*I guess it's a question of trust. Trust > in systems and in trustworthy people to do the right thing. For M-Pesa, or > KCSE results, we trust both. For IEBC, I guess the jury is still out*." > > The main issue is not allowing the dead voters to rise again to vote in the > presidential vote, then disappear. So the important component here is the > BVR/BVI, the credibility of the register and hence the vote. > > At what point does the BVI system require this connectivity they are > talking about, which then necessitates the so called "manual backup"? > > Did the CS ICT lie to the Senate?? Did the CAK lie to the Senate in > supporting the lie from the CS?? > > There is insincerity in this whole debate about 'manual backup' and the ICT > community seems to either support it or is simply lost in the pool of > confusion being peddled by politicians. > > > -- > Best regards, > Odhiambo WASHINGTON, > Nairobi,KE > +254 7 3200 0004/+254 7 2274 3223 > "Oh, the cruft." >

14 23