This article focuses on the roles of a Returning Officer in Kenya. Returning officers in Kenya are employees of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. They are not hired on a temporary basis by the commission like other election officials. They are based at the constituency level.
Roles of a Returning Officer in Kenya
- He/she is in charge of recruitment, training and deployment of election officials such as Presiding Officers, Polling Clerks, ICT Clerk
- Determining disputed votes.
- Announces election results.
- Receives and verify’s poll results at the constituency before announcing them.
- Forwards official election result declaration form to the national tallying centre.
- Distributes ballot papers and boxes to all polling stations. The polling stations are manned by Presiding Officers.
- Supervision of voting and counting of votes in the constituency.
- Declares the winner in a particular electoral unit.
- Issues certificates to winners of various elective positions.
- Signs official elections results declaration form.
- Determines the validity of ballot papers.
Roles of a Deputy Returning Officer
- A Deputy Returning Officer is the official assistant to the Returning Officer.
- In the absence of the Returning Officer, the DRO carries out duties on his/her behalf.
- Performs any other relevant duties that may be assigned to him or her by the Returning Officer.
Qualifications of a Deputy Returning Officer
- Must hold a degree from a university or institution recognised in Kenya.
- Must be a Kenyan citizen.
- Should be non-partisan.
- Should have at least 6 years of experience working at a supervisory level in the public or private sector.
- Be computer literate.
- Must be a resident of the county he/she is applying for.
- Must be of good character with no political affiliation.
- Must be of high integrity and at all times abide by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission’s (IEBC) code of conduct.
IEBC Returning Officer Salary
County returning officers will be paid Ksh 4,000 per day while their deputies will be paid Ksh 3,000 per day.
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