Kenyan Election Commission candidates call for blockchain voting

Justus Abonyo, the former chairman of the Kenyan Social Democratic Party and the current commissioner of the Independent Election and Boundary Commission (IEBC) of the country, called for the use of blockchain voting.

According to a report Reported by the Kenyan news media The Star, Abonyo announced the call when he appeared in court on Thursday at the Kenyatta International Conference Center overseeing the selection committee appointed by the IEBC commissioner.

Abonyo elaborated on his support for blockchain voting. He said that such a move would bring significant cost savings of up to 300%, noting:

“The cost of a vote in Kenya is between US$7 and US$25 (700 to 2500 shillings). If we use blockchain technology, this cost will be reduced to US$0.5 (Sh50). This is an area that I will explore as a commissioner. “

IEBC committee candidates also believe that the use of blockchain voting will also help improve the transparency and security of Kenya’s elections. While Abonyo is calling for the adoption of new technologies, the country is also preparing for another general election in 2022.

According to reports, Kenya’s last presidential election in 2017 was compromised by allegations that IEBC’s electronic voting system was compromised.These claims are further obtained murder The IT manager of IEBC was a few days before the vote.

related: The United Nations Department of Drugs and Crime recommends that Kenya use blockchain to fight corruption

The MIT cybersecurity expert stated in November 2020 that the voting system based on the new technology carried out The “serious risks” of democracy.

In fact, some recent deployments of blockchain-based voting protocols have been subject to performance scrutiny. In July 2020, it was reported that Russia’s system used in voting for the 2020 Constitutional Amendment allows voters and even third-party entities Decipher the ballot.

At the same time, Abonyo is not the first company to provide blockchain as a panacea to ensure security and transparency in the country.As previously reported by Cointelegraph, David Robinson, the regional anti-corruption consultant of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, stated as early as November 2020 that the Kenyan authorities can use blockchain as a Tools to fight corruption.