The electoral field agents will need lightweight, portable communication devices for constant communication in all the remote polling stations.

Each presiding officer will be given a Thuraya SG-2520 satellite phone to be able to maintain constant communication on the electoral progress and give timely feedback on the site status and results. When an officer is out of network range the phone will automatically switch to GSM mode enabling them to communicate via the GSM network and always be in communication.

Due to limited resources, the teams will require portable units that will support several users and can be easily deployed at any of the stations.

1. Each polling station will use the BGAN Hughes 9201 to maintain and co-ordinate its operations during the election process through facilitating the polling officers with a means to make and receive calls as well as sending data

2. They will be able to carry out normal, regular administrative duties, forwarding progressive reports on the electoral progress back to the Kenya electoral commission.

3. They will be able to receive instant feedback with signed authority on urgent procedures and continuously browsing the internet for media updates on the overall national election progress.

4. The device will also act as the office, fixed phone line as it offers affordable call rates and is accessible to everyone.

As the electoral teams will be in constant movement from site to site and certain environs are volatile, there is a need to ensure security of the agents.

1. By placing a Thuraya-eye on each vehicle, the team can be in constant communication whilst traveling for status reporting purposes and incases of emergencies as the personnel can make and receive calls whilst the car is moving.

2. The Thuraya-eye will also act as a tracking device, so the headquarters will be able to monitor the vehicles movements and forewarn them of any approaching danger on-route and communicate alternate routes to use or other situation solutions.

While out in the field or within the camp the agents needed lightweight, portable communication devices for field operations

The relief agents were equipped with Inmarsat ISAT phones which enabled them to maintain constant and fast communication allowing them to quickly assemble quick response units and immediately execute rescue missions

They were able to inform each other if an area was volatile and avoid any impeding dangers

As most of the teams were mainly on the move, they needed to access the internet with an easily and quickly deployable device that could support the whole team.

The agents equipped themselves with a Thrane & Thrane 700 and were able to forward pictures of the site, camp conditions and mudslide’s impact in the area to the headquarters as well as participate in regular, status meetings held at the headquarters through video conferencing

A stable, communication channel for agents when they were in motion, traveling from one site to another.

By installing each vehicle with a Thuraya-eye, it allowed the agents to continuously make and receive calls whilst in motion

A means of tracking each project vehicle for security purposes due to the area’s volatile environment.

Each of the relief vehicles was set-up with a Thuraya-eye and the teams were able to communicate with each other and the headquarters.

They were able to continuously monitor the progress of the situation and have instant updates on procedures which were constantly changing due to the volatility of the situation.

The headquarters’ was able to monitor the agents movements incase of any impeding danger.