Presiding Officer (PO)

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is a constitutional body in Kenya responsible for conducting and supervising elections and referenda, ensuring free, fair, and credible electoral processes.

The Presiding Officer (PO) holds primary responsibility for all activities at a polling station, with the Deputy Presiding Officer (DPO) providing support. This role involves overseeing the entire electoral process, from setting up the station and managing materials to supervising staff, ensuring voter flow, and maintaining law and order. The PO is also crucial for the secure operation of the KIEMS technology and the accurate electronic transmission of election results to tallying centers.

1. Take overall charge of the polling station operations.
2. Demarcate and set up the polling station layout.
3. Ensure the safety and proper use of the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS).
4. Verify that the KIEMS and power bank are fully charged and all components are available before departing to the polling station.
5. Supervise all polling activities within the station.
6. Distribute election materials to clerks at the polling station.
7. Officially declare the commencement of polling.
8. Run the network connectivity tool on the KIEMS at 5:30 AM.
9. Open and close the Polling Station Voting Period on the KIEMS.
10. Maintain law and order at the polling station.
11. Ensure a smooth flow of voters in the queue.
12. Guarantee that all election results and logs are electronically transmitted from the polling station to the Tallying centers.
13. Present the tabulated results to agents before transmission.
14. Supervise all election officials working at the polling station.
15. Regularly update and communicate with the Constituency Returning Officer.
16. Post a copy of the election results at the polling station.
17. Deliver the results to the Constituency Returning Officer.
18. Be responsible for security at the polling station.
19. Ensure the safe retrieval and return of election materials to the Returning Officer.

1. Must be a Kenyan citizen of high integrity and non-partisan.
2. Possess a Degree or Diploma certificate from a recognized institution.
3. Be computer literate.
4. Demonstrate effective communication skills.
5. Have good report writing abilities.
6. Capable of managing people, sensitive data, and materials.
7. Possess skills in data computation.
8. Must be available for the entire duration of the electoral exercise.
9. Must be a resident in the County Assembly Ward.