Lawyer Willis Otieno has urged the incoming Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson and commissioners to abolish the concept of a national tallying centre in the 2027 elections.
Traditionally hosted at the renowned Bomas of Kenya, the centre has become ingrained in the minds of Kenyans as the place where a new president is unveiled after days of anticipation and tension, as seen in the 2013, 2017, and 2022 elections.
Willis argues that the idea of a national tallying centre is not only contrary to constitutional provisions but also a setup that makes it easier for election results to be manipulated. "For us to achieve a free and fair election, we first need to do away with Bomas.
We don't need a national tallying centre," Willis said during an interview on Spice FM. "The spirit of the court's decision in the Maina Kiai petition was that votes should be cast, counted, and results announced at the polling station before the first tallying at the constituency level," he added.
