[kictanet] ICT Experts Brush Off Manual IEBC Back UpSystem

Thu Jan 5 13:09:12 EAT 2017

Dear Listers ,

Below is a link to an article in regards to KictaNET's stand on the above
matter.

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/mobile/article/2000228773/ict-experts-brush-off-manual-iebc-back-up-system

Kind regards,

Rosemary Koech-Kimwatu
Tel: 0718181644
Skype: Rosemary Koech-Kimwatu
LinkedIn: Rosemary Koech-Kimwatu
Twitter: @Chemu_koech

On 30 Dec 2016 12:02, "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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