IEBC presidential results consistent with our parallel tally – Observer group says
Elections Observer Group (ELOG) says the presidential results announced by the electoral body on Monday, August 15, fall within the lobby group's Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) estimates.
In a statement, the coalition of civil society and faith-based organizations affirmed that the projected results are consistent with the final tally released by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
"ELOG's PVT estimates are consistent with IEBC's official results for the 2022 Presidential Election. In light of our assessment of the election day processes and given that IEBC figures fall within the projected ranges the PVT projections, therefore, corroborate the official results," ELOG said.
IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati yesterday declared William Ruto of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance the winner of the August 9 polls with 7,176, 141 votes, which is 50.49 per cent of the total votes cast.
The country's Deputy President narrowly beat Azimio One Kenya rival Raila Odinga who garnered 6,942,930 votes (48.85 per cent).
The other two presidential candidates, George Wajackoyah of the Roots party got 61,969 votes representing 0.44 per cent while David Mwaure Waihiga of the Agano party garnered 31,987 votes (0.23 per cent).
ELOG projections and final IEBC tally
ELOG had projected that Raila would garner 48.70 per cent of the vote against Ruto's 50.70 per cent. The group's margin of error was plus or minus 2.1 per cent.
With regard to the voter turnout, the group said IEBC's official turnout of 65.4 per cent also falls within ELOG's estimated range and accurately reflects the turnout of the voters.
The data ELOG used was sent by election observers stationed at sampled polling stations.
The organisation observed that the country has made strides towards credible elections.
To improve the integrity of the election, ELOG recommended, among others, a thorough audit of the voter register and quick resolution of election-related court cases ahead of election day, particularly those that impact the election day processes.
ELOG urged political players to act in good faith to promote peace among their supporters and seek any redress for their grievances through the courts.
The statement comes a day after Azimio rejected the outcome of the presidential poll.
Speaking at the national tallying centre in Bomas of Kenya yesterday, Raila's chief agent Saitabao Ole Kanchory claimed that the electoral body's systems were hacked, tainting the credibility of the election.
Kanchory alleged that officials of the commission were involved in a 'rigging scheme'.
"We have intelligence reports that their system was penetrated and hacked and that some of the IEBC officials actually committed electoral offences and some of them ought to have been arrested if they were not arrested," Kanchory stated.
