Top-notch order and security at Bomas tallying centre
The Bomas of Kenya has been turned into a fortress with military-type security features deployed at virtually every corner of the facility that will be the focus of millions of Kenyans after polls close on Tuesday.
The facility has been gazetted as the National Tallying Centre and had been closed to the public for the last one month for renovations to fit the specifications of the IEBC.
Right from the gate, Bomas has become an access-only place, with those without the IEBC accreditation cards turned back.
Cars with no IEBC parking tickets are also asked to turn at the gate that is being manned by five police officers and five private security guards.
ACCREDITATION
Inside, five more officers have created a barrier where they re-confirm the accreditation cards, before you are allowed in.
To get to the auditorium where IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati will make the all-important announcement of the winner of Tueday’s General Election is even harder with more scrutiny.
At Bomas, IEBC will receive the scanned Form 34Bs from all constituency returning officers where two officers manning the desk, and who pass it to two officers who will authenticate it in presence of candidates’ chief agents.
The team will serialise the forms and pass it to a six-man collation team that will serve the 47 counties, and will generate Form 34C – that will be used in the announcement of the winner – before passing it to a validation team.
“The declaration of the presidential results shall be based on the verification that the constitutional threshold has been obtained by the winning candidate,” the IEBC says.
SECURITY TIGHT
Security before entering the auditorium is equally tight with those accessing being scanned twice and being required to remove any metallic contents in their possession.
Access cards issued have a security chip and are to be swiped for one to go through a grilled gate erected at what used to be the entrance to the auditorium.
Inside, the IEBC has meticulously planned the 3,000-seater facility to seat guests who will be streaming into the auditorium from today when the results start trickling in.
Next to Mr Chebukati and the six other commissioners, who have been isolated and their table and podium raised, will be the presidential candidates, their families and their chief agents.
Then there will be observers who will sit next to political party representatives.
The media, whom the IEBC has promised a dedicated 24-hour link to its live results, will have their own row and seats where they will be beaming live the events to the millions of Kenyans who will be waiting after casting their vote.
