[kictanet] Manual Backup and Elections 2017: Is the CS ICT Honest
Walubengo J
jwalu at yahoo.com
Fri Dec 30 19:55:16 EAT 2016
@Barrack,
My views and solutions were shared ealier. But just incase listers did not read or have questions, you can find them here.
WALUBENGO: On electronic polling, both Cord and Jubilee are
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WALUBENGO: On electronic polling, both Cord and Jubilee are
Nothing stops the opposition from abusing a failed system, but the incumbent always has an upper hand | |
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walu.
From: Barrack Otieno via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
To: jwalu at yahoo.com
Cc: Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com>; JImmy Gitonga <jimmygitts at gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, December 30, 2016 6:26 PM
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Manual Backup and Elections 2017: Is the CS ICT Honest
Dear all,
In the meantime, we encourage all of you to raise the substantive
issues you have the way Washington and other colleagues have done. We
have started collating the views for submission to the Senate next
week.
Best Regards and wishes for the new year
On 12/30/16, Collins Areba via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
> Let's dissect the problem into pieces.
> 1: voter registration: collecting details, photos and fingerprints.
> (Multiple data types)
>
> 2: verification: ascertaining that registered persons are in the system,
> and dead / expired ones are removed from the system. (Boolean: yes / No)
>
> 3: voting: choosing from one of several options.
>
> 4: tallying : counting the choices at the polling stations and recording
> the results on paper or device.
>
> 5: transmission: sending this information to regional and national tallying
> centers.
>
> Maybe the good CS can explain how al shabbat can disable IT solutions so
> much that manual "backups" would suffice.
>
>
>
> On 30 Dec 2016 17:58, "Grace Mutung'u via kictanet" <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
>> Thank you Wash for initiating the discussion. I also wondered whether a
>> complimentary system was used in voter registration and where this system
>> resides.
>>
>> I remember a quote by the IEBC CEO during the Kenya IGF where he stated
>> that being a Republic based on democracy, we have made elections the only
>> means to access power. https://livestream.com/internetsociety2/kigf
>> He recalled the use of tech in the 2010 Referendum, 2013 elections and
>> the
>> various by-elections that have taken place. In the Referendum and most
>> by-elections, there was not much contest about use of technology while
>> for
>> 2013 some issues were raised- these included multiple registers, voter
>> impersonation and transparency.
>> The tech community has an important role to play in demystifying some of
>> these concepts.
>> a) The wording of the amendment read "complimentary mechanism for
>> identification of voters". It has now been expanded to include
>> transmission
>> of election results "where technology deployed initially fails". What
>> would this mean, in the case of identification of voters and in the case
>> of
>> transmission of results? What complimentary systems were envisaged here?
>> "Manual backup?" The ambiguity in the wording is a challenge as it
>> leaves
>> too room for interpretation in a system of high contests.
>>
>> b) The mischief that technology was meant to cure in elections
>> management
>> was among others allegations of voter impersonation and transparency in
>> management of elections. Tech is therefore supposed to achieve
>> simplicity,
>> accuracy, verifiablilty, security, accountability and transparency. Is
>> the
>> conversation about a " complimentary" system a necessary one at this
>> stage?
>>
>> Outside of the amendment, has anyone come across the data that CA
>> presented on network coverage in the counties? A visualisation of that
>> data
>> besides the polling stations would be useful in helping us identify the
>> specific polling stations/tallying centres that are not covered. I am
>> asking this because the presenters spoke of areas not covered by network
>> as
>> opposed to polling stations/tallying centres not covered.
>>
>> Raha tupate na ustawi
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> 2016-12-30 13:54 GMT+03:00 Victor Kapiyo via kictanet <
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>:
>>
>>> I agree. We should put together our submissions as the ICT community and
>>> present the same to bunge.
>>>
>>> Victor
>>>
>>> On 30 Dec 2016 13:50, "Dorcas Muthoni via kictanet" <
>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Thanks Walu, it's time for us to stand up. Let's demystify this tech.
>>>>
>>>> On Dec 30, 2016 1:43 PM, "Walubengo J via kictanet" <
>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I think this is an opportunity for the ICT fraternity to take up the
>>>>> challenge and demystify electronic systems in elections. I believe
>>>>> this
>>>>> forum has the most neutral platform where the media, academia,
>>>>> operators,
>>>>> regulators, government, legal and other interested parties can
>>>>> brainstorm
>>>>> on this.
>>>>>
>>>>> I propose that early in the year, a face-2-face roundtable TV /Radio
>>>>> broadcast (NTV, Citizen, KTN?) deliberation to break this down -perhaps
>>>>> at
>>>>> Strath University (CPIT are you there?).
>>>>>
>>>>> A lot has been written on the issue of electronic systems in elections
>>>>> but seems nobody READS, least of all politicians from both sides of
>>>>> the
>>>>> divide. I can imagine a cast of the following:
>>>>>
>>>>> IEBC: CEO or Rep?
>>>>> Regulator: CEO or Rep?
>>>>> Operator: Safcom/Airtel/Telkom?
>>>>> ICT Min: Minister or rep?
>>>>> Academia: MMU/Strath/UoN/?
>>>>> Political Party: Jubilee+CORD Rep?
>>>>> Moderator &Broadcaster: Media (Citizen, NTV,KTN)
>>>>> Convenor: KICTAnet -GG are you back from holiday?
>>>>> Sponsors: Anyone?
>>>>>
>>>>> If we do not hijack this ICT conversation, the politicians will run
>>>>> with it in the wrong direction and we might find ourselves exactly
>>>>> where we
>>>>> were in 2007.
>>>>>
>>>>> walu.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ------------------------------
>>>>> *From:* JImmy Gitonga via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>>>>> *To:* jwalu at yahoo.com
>>>>> *Cc:* JImmy Gitonga <jimmygitts at gmail.com>
>>>>> *Sent:* Friday, December 30, 2016 1:14 PM
>>>>> *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Manual Backup and Elections 2017: Is the CS
>>>>> ICT Honest
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you Odhiambo Washington,
>>>>>
>>>>> I have the same concerns myself. I reached the conclusion that it
>>>>> would
>>>>> be nice if "ICT Experts" could lay their hands on a BVI machine as well
>>>>> as
>>>>> a and show the rest of us what the problem really is. The ERT issue is
>>>>> a
>>>>> red herring. It has worked flawlessly in the bi-elections that have
>>>>> happened ever since. With PKI and 2 factor authentication, this can be
>>>>> solved for election day.
>>>>>
>>>>> I am sure Victor Kyalo and Joseph Mucheru could make this possible.
>>>>> Call it a "Kenyans as ICT stakeholders" meeting. All Listers with time
>>>>> will
>>>>> begin to be asked by their family or neighbours, what the issue really
>>>>> is.
>>>>> I, for one, do not want to echo the CS's words.
>>>>>
>>>>> I think the CS and the PS should help us help them. Otherwise they
>>>>> will
>>>>> be on their own when the political vultures come calling.
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards,
>>>>> Jimmy Gitonga
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Message: 4
>>>>> Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2016 11:30:08 +0300
>>>>> From: Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo at gmail.com>
>>>>> To: Kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke >
>>>>> Subject: [kictanet] Manual Backup and Elections 2017: Is the CS ICT
>>>>> Honest
>>>>> Message-ID:
>>>>> <CAAdA2WPFoRvjF5Bodk+sHb-P4_ rUp2AXpA9Q3zAk-UR57cqwGw at mail.
>>>>> gmail.com
>>>>> <CAAdA2WPFoRvjF5Bodk%2BsHb-P4_rUp2AXpA9Q3zAk-UR57cqwGw at mail.gmail.com>>
>>>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>>>>>
>>>>> 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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>>>>>
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>>>>> 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
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>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m
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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
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>>>
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>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
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>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Grace L.N. Mutung'u
>> Skype: gracebomu
>> Twitter: @Bomu
>>
>> <http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org/profile/GraceMutungu>
>>
>> PGP ID : 0x33A3450F
>>
>>
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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.
>>
>
--
Barrack O. Otieno
+254721325277
+254733206359
Skype: barrack.otieno
PGP ID: 0x2611D86A
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