The Government has said there are concerns that Al Shabaab militants can interfere with the 2017 election.
ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru on Thursday said the reason the government is pushing for a manual voting system as backup is because Al Shabaab 'can interfere with the election'.
The CS spoke when he appeared before the senate committee on legal affairs.
"We are at war with Al Shabaab who are known to interfere with communication systems. The Ministry fully recommends manual backup system," he said.
"I support full electronic process in future but we also need a back-up. We need an optional system," he added.
Mucheru also claimed there are other quarters also planning to manipulate the electronic voting system.
"Cartels are trying to use technology to frustrate Kenyans. We have realised early enough and the same technology will be used to control all that," Mucheru said.
Mombasa senator Hassan Omar, however, dismissed the CS's assertions.
"That is a mediocre reasoning which is dangerous at this time," Omar said.