IEBC Officials Fired After Secret Meeting At Politician's Home

They included a presiding officer, two deputy presiding officers and a clerk

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Aug 8, 2022 - 09:43 Updated: Aug 8, 2022 - 09:43
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IEBC Officials Fired After Secret Meeting At Politician's Home
IEBC officials guiding voters at a polling station. /FILE

Four Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials have been fired by the commission after they were arrested for holding a secret meeting at the home of a former Member of County Assembly (MCA) aspirant in Riat village, Homa Bay County.

Homa Bay county IEBC returning officer, Fredrick Apopa confirmed that the officials had engaged in electoral malpractices by attending the meeting.

They included a presiding officer, two deputy presiding officers and a clerk and were supposed to take charge of Kwabwai and Kanyadoto wards during the August 9 general elections.

A fleet of Kenya Police cars. /FILE

Media reports had revealed that the county officials had been made aware of the secret meeting and trooped to the politician's home in order to disrupt it.

The quartet of election officials were later dragged to the nearby police station. However, some election officials had managed to escape from the house just before the irate residents caught up with them.

Witnesses at the scene alleged that the four officials were working on an agreement with some of the candidates to gain an advantage in the elections.

“I was tipped that the IEBC officials were striking a deal with the candidates to ensure that ballot papers are marked and stuffed into ballot boxes in their favour on the election day,” a witness told NTV. 

Ndhiwa sub-county police boss, Paul Rioba revealed that investigations were ongoing in order to establish the agenda of the discussions with a view to taking additional action over the matter.

Some of the attendees of the meeting included an MCA and a parliamentary candidate. Apopa, while reprimanding the officials for their actions, noted that the matter, upon completion of investigations, will be left to the police and other authorities including the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to determine whether or not they will be charged.

"You cannot be in a meeting with politicians when the law requires you to be neutral.

"The outcome of the investigation will determine whether they will be charged. It will be up to the police and the office of the Director of Public Protection to take legal action against them," he told the media.

IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati noted that the commission had dispatched temporary staff, including presiding officers, deputies and clerks to manage the elections.

The officials had taken an Oath of Secrecy in line with Section 55 (A) of the Elections Act which states that; "Every officer, candidate or agent in attendance at a polling station shall maintain and aid in maintaining the secrecy of the ballot; and not communicate, except for a purpose authorized by law before the poll is closed, any information as to the name or number on the register of voters, of any voter who has or has not applied for a ballot paper or voted at that station or as to the official mark."

However, a presiding officer may, upon request, divulge to a candidate or to the agent of a candidate the total number of voters who have voted in the station at any time before the poll is closed.

IEBC Chairman, Wafula Chebukati carries out a mock voting exercise on August 7, 2022. /IEBC

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