IEBC meets candidates ahead of Ugenya mini poll

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The Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission on Thursday held a second meeting with candidates ahead of the April 5 Ugenya parliamentary by-election.

Among the issues discussed at the meeting were voter bribery, smear campaigns and security during campaigns for the remaining days and on the election day.

All the four candidates; Brian Omondi (Thirdway Alliance), Chris Karan (ODM), David Ochieng (Movement for Growth and Democracy) and Daniel Juma (Grand Dream Development) were present.

The Ugenya seat fell vacant in December 2018 after the Supreme Court nullified the election of Karan. The judges said the poll was marred with malpractice.

IEBC Returning Officer Vincent Sytabua told The Standard the meeting was a follow-up. Other issues to be discussed by the candidates included appointment of political party agents.

"This entails number of agents per polling stations, number of chief agents for the constituency and ward and what is expected of them.The agents are to be appointed by 19th of this month," he said.

Sytabau said the IEBC will meet the agents and train them on 31st of this month together with the Registrar of Political Parties.

"We also discussed the issues of tallying centre management, especially who will be allowed in. We encouraged them to maintain peace."

Karan criticised the county security team against plans to deploy more than 40 GSU officers to man tallying centres during the poll.

Omondi of Thirdway Alliance said smear campaigns and voter bribery came up during the meeting and were addressed. 

Juma of GDDP said the IEBC had committed to ensure the elections are peaceful.

Ugenya deputy county commissioner Pamela Otieno said there will be enough police officers to patrol during campaigns.

"We are pleased to announce that rallies have been peaceful so far."