🇰🇪KenyaEast Africa
Kenyan software engineer develops Mfumo platform to boost voter participation and access to electoral information
via Tuko5 min read
Samuel Waithaka, a Kenyan software engineer, has developed Mfumo, a civic-tech platform designed to enhance voter participation and access to electoral information in Kenya ahead of the 2027 general election. The platform addresses challenges voters face, such as locating Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission IEBC offices for registration assistance or transferring voting stations. Mfumo utilizes a chatbot that allows users to share their location and receive guidance to the nearest IEBC office. Waithaka, whose background is in software development and building chatbots, was motivated to create Mfumo after observing difficulties people encountered in finding IEBC offices and accessing reliable civic information. He aims for the platform to help citizens critically examine leadership qualities and make informed choices. While building the platform was not technically challenging, Waithaka notes that raising awareness and recruiting volunteers to map IEBC offices nationwide have been the biggest hurdles. User feedback on Mfumo's intuitive design and usability has been consistently positive.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Tuko.
Must ReadThe High Court has upheld the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua, while simultaneously ruling that his constitutional rights were violated during the Senate proceedings. The court awarded Gachagua KSh 50 million in compensation, to be paid by the Senate, but did not overturn the impeachment. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Gachagua's successor, responded to the ruling by stating, "It's okay." However, Gachagua's legal team expressed strong dissatisfaction with the decision, with lawyer Ndegwa Njiru calling it "judicial nonsense" and confirming plans to appeal to the Court of Appeal. Another lawyer, Dan Maanzo, argued that the court should have annulled the impeachment and reinstated Gachagua.
Must ReadThe High Court has awarded former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua KSh 50 million in constitutional damages, ruling that the Senate violated his rights during impeachment proceedings. A three-judge bench, led by Justice Eric Ogola, found that the Senate acted unfairly by refusing to postpone the hearing despite being informed of Gachagua's illness and inability to participate effectively. The court stated that the Senate had the discretion to postpone the proceedings but failed to exercise it appropriately. This compensation is intended to vindicate the Constitution, restore Gachagua's dignity, and deter future violations. However, the court declined to overturn Gachagua's impeachment, citing constitutional complications and the finality provisions of Article 1457 of the constitution. The judges noted that Gachagua is free to pursue other legal remedies. Each party will bear its own legal costs due to the public interest and constitutional significance of the matter.
The Kenya Meteorological Department has issued a forecast indicating predominantly dry conditions across most of the country for the period from Tuesday, June 9, to Monday, June 15. However, some areas, specifically parts of the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley and the Coast, may experience rainfall. Intermittent cool and cloudy conditions are also anticipated in certain parts of the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the Southeastern Lowlands, the Rift Valley, and Northeastern Kenya. Daytime temperatures are expected to exceed 30°C in several counties, including parts of the coast, southeastern lowlands, highlands west of the Rift Valley, and northeastern and northwestern Kenya. Conversely, nighttime temperatures are projected to drop below 10°C in a few areas within the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the Central Rift Valley, and near Mt. Kilimanjaro. Specific regional forecasts detail sunny intervals with possibilities of showers and thunderstorms in the Highlands West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, and the Rift Valley. Northwestern Kenya and Northeastern Kenya are expected to have sunny intervals with partly cloudy nights, though morning rains and afternoon showers are possible in the latter. The Highlands East of the Rift Valley may see cloudy mornings with occasional rains, transitioning to sunny intervals. The Southeastern Lowlands and the Coast are also predicted to experience sunny intervals, with potential for morning, af