ELOG to deploy over 5,000 observers to Kenya poll

The Elections Observation Group (ELOG) will deploy 5,108 observers to tallying centres across the country to assess the integrity and general conduct of the electoral process on August 9 when Kenyans take to the ballot.

ELOG said 3,050 of these will be general observers while 1,000 Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) observers will assume the role of stationery observers on election day.

The group added that 580 constituency observers will likewise be stationed in all 290 constituencies as tallying center observers.

ELOG Chairperson Anne Ireri made the announcement on Saturday during the launch of the body's National Data Centre.

"We will employ a systematic approach to data collection and analysis through the use of standardized checklists to gather information on the quality of the process from across all the polling stations where ELOG observers will be present," said Ms. Ireri.

"The comprehensive deployment for this election will allow ELOG to provide timely and precise information on the quality of the process of voting, counting and announcement of results at the polling stations."

According to Ms. Ireri, the ELOG observers will arrive at the designated polling stations by 5:30am on election day and will only leave after the official results from the centres are announced and forwarded to the national tallying centre.  

"Using a standardized checklist, they will observe the processes of setting up polling stations, opening, voting and counting procedures, and announcement of results. They will send in their reports at designated times via coded text messages to ELOG's Data Center in Nairobi," she said.

Ms. Ireri likewise revealed that ELOG's data centre, which will be open to the public and press, will begin operations on August 9, at 5am and conclude business only after the observers send in their observation reports.

"We are currently conducting a second live simulation exercise to test the functionality of our data management systems and our observers,” she said.

“All the 1,000 PVT stationary observers are sending in practice reports based on the Election Day scenario, which will be duly processed by the data clerks and the analysis team."

The ELOG chair likewise called on Kenyans to turn up for the polls in large numbers while advocating for a peaceful electoral process.