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

[Barrack Otieno]

Many thanks Walu,

Best Regards

On 12/30/16, Walubengo J <jwalu at yahoo.com> wrote:
> @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  |   |
>
>   |
>
>   |
>
>
>
> 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."
>>>>>> -------------- next part --------------
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>>>>>> >
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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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.
>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>
>>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m
>>>>>> ailman/options/kictanet/dmuthoni%40gmail.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 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.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> kictanet mailing list
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>>>>>
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>>>>> ailman/options/kictanet/vkapiyo%40gmail.com
>>>>>
>>>>> 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.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> kictanet mailing list
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>>>>
>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m
>>>> ailman/options/kictanet/nmutungu%40gmail.com
>>>>
>>>> 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.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> 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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>
> 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