By Alex Kiprotich
Eldama Ravine, Kenya: Chaos erupted at Seguton polling station in Mumberes, Baringo County after a voter was shot dead in unclear circumstance by a police officer.
The voter was shot dead by the officer after he attempted to block the voting process alleging that the ballot papers delivered to the polling station were few for the URP nominations.
“The agent was complaining that the ballot papers were few and attempted to block voting from taking place but the police officer shot him at pointblank and died instantly,” said Lembus ward URP coordinator Wilson Maritim.
Maritim, who was the URP agent, said the deceased was among hundreds of voters protesting why only 90 ballot papers were delivered yet there were 579 registered voters in the polling station.
He said as voters who had waited for hours for the ballot papers to be delivered protested loudly, four Administration Police officers from the nearby Seguton AP camp stormed the compound of the polling station and chased them out.
“The deceased picked a stick and this is when one of the officers shot him on the chest and died on the spot,” he said.
Following the incident, hundreds of residents held demonstration blocking the road leading to Eldama Ravine as they blocked police officers from removing the body from the scene.
The residents demanded to be addressed by the area DC Samson Irungu.
Four polling stations- Tariko, Kambara, Chemesuon and Seguton have been closed.
Koibatek OCPD Karisa Mwaringa who visited the scene said investigations will be launched to ascertain the circumstances of the killing.
