[kictanet] Manual Backup and Elections 2017: Is the CS ICT Honest

Fri Dec 30 12:25:32 EAT 2016

Professionalism involves protecting ones profession.In my opinion, the CS
faired quite poorly by potraying information and communication technology
as very inadequate.
Regards

On 30-Dec-2016 12:22 PM, "Patrick Mathenge via kictanet" <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Thanks Washington,
> I listened to the CS and with all due respect and in Senator Omar's words,
> the issues he raised were nothing short mediocrity. He simply pushed his
> boss's agenda.
>
> Regards,
> Patrick
>
> On 30 Dec 2016 12:01 PM, "Odhiambo Washington via kictanet" <
> kictanet at 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."
>>
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> 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.
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