The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of Kenya has decided to use blockchain technology in order to increase the efficiency, trust, and integrity of its election voting process. Utilizing blockchain technology would allow them to offer real-time polling results.
The Chairperson of the IEBC, Wafula Chebukati, said that this step would help candidates access election results in a real-time format. Elections in the country still carry the haunting experience of violence that broke out in the years 2007 and 2017, when over a thousand citizens were killed and hundreds of thousands fled their homes.
Why Blockchain Voting?
Candidates participating in the election in Kenya often accuse the other party of practicing illegal activities like vote tampering, rigging, and voter intimidation. Blockchain technology is seen as a way to provide transparency and offer the satisfaction of legitimate voting to the candidates and populace.
Also, to avoid any kind of strife in the country, like what happened in the year 2017 where the supporters of the opposition party refused to accept their defeat and further complicated the election process, blockchain technology can be used to provide stability, security, and transparency to the entire election process.
Blockchain In Kenya!
Kenya is the most successful and the busiest technology hub in all of Africa. It is also sometimes known as the Silicon Savannah, which boasts world-leading statistics in regards to access to mobile digital payment solutions.
The Blockchain Association of Kenya has been in complete support of implementing blockchain technology in its voting system. An editorial published in September 2017 in Kenya’s daily nation newspaper suggested the IEBC initiate the plan and start using the blockchain in order to build voter trust.
Kenya is not just looking to implement blockchain in its electoral process. According to Information Minister Joseph Mucheru, Kenya is also looking to implement blockchain technology in the country’s land registry as well.
It will become more efficient, transparent, and easier to record data on the notorious land registry database of Kenya. Such a move could help reduce political corruption and illegal kickbacks.
As the country is rapidly increasing with blockchain technology, Kenya’s Capital Markets Authority (CMA) said that a special unit dedicated to cryptocurrency issues be created.
So what are your views on the implementation of blockchain technology in the election voting process? Share your views in the comment section below.
Images courtesy of Shutterstock.