Mandera voters in court to stop IEBC from taking tallying center to government office

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission CEO Ezra Chiloba (right) and Chairman Wafula Chebukati addressing the press at the commission’s offices in Nairobi (Photo: Courtesy)

Three voters from Mandera have accused the electoral agency of planning to rig elections by moving polling centre from a school to Government offices.

Mohammed Ibrahim, Yussuf Haji and Salima Hassan claimed the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) unilaterally moved the tallying centre from a public primary school to the sub-county commissioner’s office, which signalled an intention to interfere with the polls.

“Since time immemorial, the tallying centre for Mandera North Constituency has always been at Rhamu Arid Zone Primary School. The decision to move the tallying centre to a Government office indicates intended rigging,” their lawyer Samuel Ayieko said.

He said the voters became aware of the changes on Friday last week and wondered why IEBC had not involved them.

The lawyer also said the electorate were at a loss as to why the polls agency had decided to make the changes a few days to the elections.

He said the alleged plot to change the tallying centre was hatched by senior politicians from the county as a ploy to rig the elections for the presidential, governorship and parliamentary positions.

“The new gazetted tallying centre at the sub-county commissioner’s office is a small enclosed office which can only accommodate few people. It therefore means party representatives and observers will be locked out during tallying of votes.”

Ayieko termed the decision illegal, unprocedural and unconstitutional, arguing it would interfere with the voters’ right to a free, fair and credible election.

Ayieko submitted IEBC officials were only supposed to ensure all votes cast are counted, tabulated and results announced promptly.

“IEBC can only assure the electorate of credible elections by showing openness. It is illogical for them to deviate from this,” said Ayieko.