The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chairperson, Erastus Ethekon.MPs have rejected a proposal by the electoral commission to increase the number of voters per polling station from 700 to 1,000.The lawmakers cited the agency’s failure to increase the number of polling stations, which would be needed to accommodate the increase in voters.The MPs also expressed concerns about the risk of malpractice and of many Kenyans being locked out of voting during the 2027 General Election.During the debate on the Elections (Amendment) Bill 2024, MPs argued that the number of voters should remain at 700. Others proposed reducing it for efficiency during voting.The current law stipulates that a polling station should have a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 700 voters.Justice and Legal Affairs Committee chairman George Murugara said the committee has a problem with the IEBC and will be persuading the whole House to reject the proposal.“As a committee, we have a problem with this proposal, and we will move an amendment so that the current number is retained, especially since the IEBC is not in a position to review polling stations,” said Mr Murugara.“Time is running out, and there is a lot to be done. We thought IEBC would come up with new polling stations for the upcoming elections. However, this does not appear to be the case, so it may not be appropriate to implement this provision now,” he said.National Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs Committee Chairperson, George Murugara.Wajir East MP Aden Mohammed said voting should be made easier for every voter, not more complicated. He warned that having 1,000 people in a polling station would present a challenge to the commission.“A limit of 1,000 people per polling station could mean that voting takes more than 12 hours. We will therefore propose an amendment to that section and retain the number at 700, if the House agrees,” he said.Marakwet West MP Timothy Toroitich described the proposal as unreasonable, stating that the number of voters at a polling station should actually be reduced.“The number should have been reduced. As it stands, a polling station is, politically speaking, a unit of development. So increasing the number of voters per polling station from 700 to 1,000 is quite unreasonable,” he said.Nominated MP Irene Mayaka described the proposal as ambiguous, saying it risks creating opportunities for malpractice.“At each polling station, we need clear definitions and specifications. All polling stations should have a specific number. The provision should not allow for a range of 50 to 1,000 people. That is not clear. The previous law, which set the limit at 700, was much clearer. If we want to increase the number, we should specify the new limit. We should not introduce ambiguity,” said Ms Mayaka.In its proposal to Parliament, IEBC is pushing for an amendment to section 38A regarding the number of voters per polling station, which it wants MPs to increase from 700 to 1,000.“The commission proposes the following amendment to section 38A of the principal Act: For the purposes of the efficient and effective conduct of elections, the number of voters per polling station shall not exceed eight hundred,” reads the IEBC proposal.The commission justified the increase in the number of voters per polling station by arguing that they have new voter identification machines which are faster than those used in 2013, 2017 and 2022, so the process would be quicker.During a retreat in Mombasa in April, IEBC also told the legal affairs committee that it will have additional clerks for the 2027 elections to help voters identify their polling station, so voters will no longer waste time looking for their names on a board and trying to find out where to vote.According to IEBC, the increase in the number of voters at polling stations is also based on empirical research backed by data collected as part of its post-election evaluation of the 2022 polls.The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chairperson, Erastus Ethekon.The commission estimates that, if MPs back the proposal, voting at most polling stations will conclude by 4pm, with no more queues forming late into the evening.The commission also called on MPs to remove the minimum cap of 50 voters per polling station in order to cater for areas with diverse needs and greater distances to travel.Follow our WhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.IEBC is demanding exclusive prosecutorial powers to punish political offenders directly.The 2027 election could cost Sh272 billion when IEBC preparations and campaign spending are combined.Women to get first slot in special seats to county, senate and National Assembly.We come to you. We are always looking for ways to improve our stories. Let us know what you liked and what we can improve on.MCAs want to know why the county switched from SHA less than a year after enrolling its staff.
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