Smartmatic, the technology company contracted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to supply the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS) kits in the 2022 General Election, has been approved to register its trademark locally. Despite the opposition’s concerns, Smartmatic has an existing contract with the IEBC that will run until November 2024. However, Smartmatic declined to provide an image of the National Tallying Centre (NTC) server(s) in the 2022 Presidential petition, citing intellectual property (IP) protection. The company stated that providing full access would infringe their copyright.
Smartmatic Cleared to Continue Operations in Kenya Despite Opposition
Smartmatic International, a technology company that supplied the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS) kits in the 2022 General Election, has been approved to register its trademark locally. The approval by the Kenya Industrial Property Institute, however, raised concerns among the opposition, with Azimio leadership accusing the government of ensuring that the company continues to supply the technology materials in the 2027 General Election.
According to the opposition, the Kenya Kwanza administration sought to influence the outcome of the 2027 polls and keep President William Ruto in power. The Azimio wing claimed that Smartmatic’s presence would jeopardize the country’s stability, considering the company faced accusations and allegations of rigging the last election.
Despite the opposition’s concerns, Smartmatic has an existing contract with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) that will run until November 2024, according to IEBC CEO Hussein Marjan. Marjan’s comments were a response to claims by former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya that Smartmatic should not be allowed to participate in any polls in the country.
ODM chairman, John Mbadi, also echoed Oparanya’s sentiments, arguing that Smartmatic should exit the Kenyan market, particularly on matters elections. “It is evident that if they have registered their trademark, they would want to continue operations locally. We wonder what other business they would want to be involved in other than the obvious one, which is the election,” he noted.
In a rejoinder, Kenya Kwanza legislators affirmed that Smartmatic’s presence would not interfere with the elections as they would be provided with a fair chance to bid for electoral tenders. “So long as they follow the procurement law, why should they be denied the opportunity to continue with their exceptional job,” Nandi Senator Samson Charargei informed the media.
Smartmatic faced security issues regarding their technology used in the 2022 polls, with the Dutch firm declining to open the National Tallying Centre servers citing security issues. Nonetheless, the company’s presence in Kenya is set to continue, despite the opposition’s concerns.
Smartmatic Refuses to Provide Image of NTC Server in 2022 Presidential Petition
Smartmatic declined to provide an image of the National Tallying Centre (NTC) server(s) in the 2022 Presidential petition, citing intellectual property (IP) protection. The company stated that providing full access would infringe their copyright. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) contracted Smartmatic to supply the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS) kits in the 2022 General Election.
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