Kenya’s electoral process relies on software developed in the Western world.

Kenya's electoral process indeed heavily relies on software developed in Western nations, a reality deeply explored by investigative journalists at Africa Uncensored and The Elephant. Both organizations, in pieces published under similar headlines, "Kenya’s electoral theatre runs on Western software" and "Kenya’s Electoral Theatre: Staged by Western Code, Scripted by Foreign Hands" respectively, detail how the critical technological infrastructure underpinning Kenyan elections originates from outside the country. This reliance extends beyond just the software itself, with implications for control, transparency, and national sovereignty over a fundamental democratic exercise. The articles collectively highlight that the "software for the show," as one piece puts it, is largely provided through funding from Western entities, specifically mentioning EU funds. This financial backing for crucial electoral technology points to a situation where the architecture of Kenya's elections is not only developed abroad but also procured and implemented with significant external financial influence. This arrangement suggests that while the electoral process is a domestic affair, its technological spine is fundamentally an imported product, raising questions about data security, potential vulnerabilities, and the extent to which Kenya truly owns its electoral technology. Furthermore, the language used in the articles, describing the election as a "high-stakes drama" and a "theatre" with "meticul