No technical failure in BVVKs, Electoral Commission 

Ahead of the next phase of voting this Thursday, the Electoral Commission (EC) has sought to reassure the public over concerns surrounding the performance of Biometric Voter Verification Kits (BVVKs), insisting that the technology functioned properly where it was correctly deployed.

According to EC officials, the BVVKs were successfully used in 16 districts, with no technical faults recorded during voter verification.

“The BVVK machines worked. Where they were used, they verified voters successfully,” an EC source said, stressing that any challenges reported were linked to administrative and logistical shortcomings, not system failure.

Ahead of polling day, sources say, the Commission conducted several demonstrations of the kits for political parties, the media and election observers. 

These sessions were intended to promote transparency and confidence in the electoral process, showcasing the machines’ ability to authenticate voters using biometric data when properly configured and operated.

The EC said the demonstrations confirmed that the technology was secure, functional and capable of supporting a smooth voting process.

The Commission attributed gaps experienced in some areas to delays in deploying trained operators and the late delivery of access codes needed to activate the machines. In such instances, polling officials resorted to manual voter registers as a contingency measure to ensure no eligible voter was disenfranchised.

The EC emphasised that the use of manual registers did not signal a breakdown of the system, but rather a fallback option where logistical support was incomplete.

Looking ahead, the EC confirmed that the same BVVK machines will be used again this Thursday, noting that the kits are a long-term national investment intended to serve multiple electoral cycles.

Amid widespread speculation on social media, the Commission said it is prioritising factual communication to rebuild public trust. Officials maintain that BVVK technology is reliable and that improved coordination will further strengthen future electoral exercises.