The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced new measures at the National Tallying Centre in a move aimed at speeding tallying process of presidential votes.

While giving his media address of the day Saturday, IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati said it currently takes between 3 to 4 hours to process one returning officer from all the 290 constituencies and one from the diaspora a factor being blamed on the crowded space.

According to Chebukati, 265 Returning Officers have so far reported to the National Tallying Centre, 142  have been processed while 124 are waiting in the queue.

“As a result of this process floor, some of our Returning Officers have stayed here for three days sitting on those chairs which is totally unacceptable,” said Chebukati.

Chebukati has now issued new directives to speed up the vote tallying process as IEBC targets to beat the Tuesday deadline to announce winner of the presidential election.

Officers on queue are now expected to handover physical forms to the National Returning Officer and then report to the ICT desk for verification of transmitted form 34As against the original physical copies.

Presidential agents will similarly be given results of form 34As and 34Bs for their own use.

“In the event that you require the original documents, they will be available on the desks for verification,” he added.

IEBC has also issued a directive prohibiting anyone from accessing the Bomas of Kenya where the tallying process is underway.

Only presidential agents, their assistants, chiefs agents, deputy chief agents, clerks, observers, diplomats and the media have been allowed on the floor of tallying process.

By Fred Odanga Azelwa.