Don’t blame hapless IEBC technology

Since the annulment of the presidential election, the public, politicians and pundits have weighed in and made a big meal out of IEBC’s electronic election management systems.

Many people cannot wrap their heads around this system that purportedly messed up the election to the point of its nullification.

It is little wonder that some voters now propose that in the repeat election, we circumvent technology and take all the ballot boxes to a stadium and count the ballot under everyone’s watch.

COMPUTER
But why blame IEBC’s technology for the failed election processes?

Computer technology is only a tool to achieve a result.

The dictionary definition of a tool is, “a device or implement used to carry out a particular function”. So why blame a hapless tool?

When food overcooks, do we blame the stove? When the team loses a soccer match, do we blame the ball?

SKILLS

Would it be in order for a student who can’t hack a mathematics problem to blame his problems on his calculator? Of course not.

In the case of the last election, the commission’s leadership was either unable to manage this tool called technology, or used it to achieve a particular purpose.

Kenya is not a novice in the use of technology.

We have many blue-chip companies that run mission-critical operations on computer technology, almost flawlessly.

Kenya is reputed for the best tech brains in the region. Some of our tech innovations are world famous.

LEADERSHIP
The system that IEBC need for capturing, collating, transmitting and displaying the results is simple and straight forward.

The security safeguards required to insulate the system at various stages against intrusion is available and there is sufficient expertise in the country to manage it.

The question is, where is the problem? The issues playing out at IEBC stem from lapses in leadership.

The IEBC leadership was unable to manage a high-impact and time-sensitive operation. Here is why.

POLLING STATIONS
The 40,000 plus polling stations are spread across ever corner of the country.

The leadership of IEBC should keep their fingers on the pulse of every polling station.

They should have skills and a warning system to help them swing into action immediately a problem is noted.

If the results are not flowing in as expected, or not at all, they should ping the affected location, find out the issues and resolve them.

COMMUNICATION
Communication is also important. Politicians whip up emotions such that many people switch from being rational to emotional.

Aware that there is a lot of fake news doing the rounds, IEBC leadership should have come up with a clear communication strategy to make sure there was no room for speculation.

Warren Buffet, the American billionaire said, “poor communication is like winking to a girl in darkness”.

Communication is the hallmark of good leadership. IEBC must strive to work harder and keep unfettered information flowing.

FLAWS
The commission should come out openly and let Kenyans know that even in the repeat election, there will be problems.

It is irrational to expect over 40,000 polling stations with a total of more than 100,000 staff, supporting 15 million voters in a span of eight hours, to achieve an impeccable exercise.

The question is, what degree of error should we tolerate? Leadership is about managing expectations.

EXPECTATIONS

Expecting to run a high-stakes operation like this flawlessly is comparable to a woman who expects to be pregnant without adding weight.

As for technology, it is fair to assume many things will go wrong and plan what to do.

Technology is a double-edged sword; it can secure you a place in the Hall of Fame, or in the Hall of Shame. Use it well.

The writer is an informatics specialist. [email protected]. @samwambugu2