IEBC faulted for flouting laws as bribery claims, chaos mar polls

Mbeere North Constituency returning officer John Kinyua checks a pallet at the Siakago secondary school on Wednesday. [Jane Mugambi, Standard]

Bribery allegations, intimidation of voters, and the alleged failure by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to strictly adhere to electoral laws were reported in yesterday’s by-election.

The exercise, which many Kenyans had hoped would be a turning point for the newly constituted IEBC, had all the markings of a sham exercise as the ghosts of past controversial polls resurfaced with a glaring face.

In some polling stations, citizens took up the role of manning gates under the guise of protecting the votes of their favourite candidates, but in a real sense, harassing other voters and clobbering opponents.

In Mbeere North, the mini-poll turned out to be a show of might between the government and the Opposition as Gen-Z gave the exercise a wide berth amid claims of voter bribery and calculated suppression.

Across all the polling stations, citizen vigilance was experienced as voters manned the gates leading to the polling centres, stopping all vehicles and ordering everybody to park their vehicles outside the polling centres in what they termed ‘protecting the integrity of their votes.

On account

Those who tasted the wrath of the electorate included Cabinet Secretary for Public Service and Human Capital Development Geoffrey Ruku who was stopped from accessing Kanyuambora polling centre, which had 1,765 votes, on account that he was not a voter in the area.

“The CS has no business to crisscross in polling centres as he should be busy making policies that will help the country,” John Njiru said.

There was a scuffle outside the Kanyuambora Primary School as Ruku’s aide was roughed up by irate locals who maintained they wanted the person announced as the winner to be a result of voters’ will.

“We don’t care who wins but what we want is the winner to reflect the wishes of the electorate and not to be as a result of rigging,” Ann Ndwiga said.

Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi was also stopped by members of the public from accessing St Kizito Kathangari Primary School through his vehicles as he was told to alight and walk on foot to the polling centre.

Alex Nyaga, who manned St Kizito Primary School, said they did not want any vehicle to gain access to the polling center as it could aide in ferrying election materials.

Muturi also confronted a UDA agent at Siakago Social Hall after he attended the polling centre wearing party colours even as he accused the IEBC of failing to enforce the electoral laws. 

In a bid to deter the election manipulation, voters deflated cars over fears that they had been concealed to aide in voter bribery.

“We felt there was a scheme to rig the elections and deflated an high-end vehicle that was making rounds in Mbeere North. The vehicle had been marked as it went round bribing voters and issuing relief food to lure voters to vote in a certain way,” Lincoln Mugambi said.

Cases of chaos were witnessed at Kamutu Primary School in Ishiara where supporters of Ruku and those of Democratic Party candidate Newton Karish clashed over cases of voter bribery.

Kariuki’s faction accused Ruku’s team of preying on voters and asking them to provide for a proof they had voted in favour of the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Leonard Muthende to get money in return.

The electoral commission was put on the spot over failure to adhere to electoral processes such as enforcing the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (Kiems) Supervisor Validation and the Oath of Secrecy form which is also known as Form 32.

Presiding officer

The Kiems validation form also referred to as Form 44 is used in instances where voters with worn-out biometrics, which is supposed to be signed by the presiding officer and bear a fingerprint of the voter.

On the other hand, the Oath of Secrecy form is supposed to be signed by any voter who comes to the polling station to assist another who is deemed to be illiterate.

In polling stations such as St Peter’s Primary School, Gwa Kaithi Primary school, St Kizito Kathangari, the forms were depleted and the exercise went on without them.

There were two incidents where chaos arose at St Kizito polling centre after an election officer tried to give the Kiems validation form to a voter who had already casted her vote as locals questioned the motive of the official.

“I had been told that the forms had been depleted but an officer followed another voter to the gate asking her to append her signature at the form and this raised doubts as to the motive of the officer,” Gladys Kawira said.

On the second incident, voters who were ‘guarding’ the votes outside the polling centre burnt election materials, among them Form 32 claiming it was an attempt to ferry stuffed ballot boxes inside the station.

Similarly, in Ugunja, Kasipul and Malava constituencies, claims of voter bribery and attempts by the government to use State machinery to crash the opposition dominated the by-elections.

In the Eastern region, Maendeleo Chap Chap and Wiper party supporters clashed in various polling stations during the Mumbuni North Ward by-election where supporters of the opposite camps traded accusations of voter bribery.

The first incident occurred at Mung’ala Primary School polling station where former area MCA, Paul Museku, was roughed up by members of the public on claims he was engaging in voter bribery.

Museku, who was among the key campaign point men for the Wiper party’s candidate, Anthony Kisoi, was rescued by police as angry youths charged on him as he tried to flee. He, however, denied the allegations of bribing voters.

Former Machakos Town MP, Victor Munyaka, who was among the key agents of Kisoi was also confronted by a rowdy crowd which later retreated after the former MP explained his role across the polling centres.

Polling centre

Moments later, Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, who alongside Machakos Town MP Caleb Mule had escorted the Maendeleo Chap Chap candidate, Harrison Wambua to Kasinga Primary School polling centre to cast his vote also found themselves at loggerheads with Wiper party supporters who shouted and jeered at them, forcing the CS to leave the polling centre unceremoniously.

Angry members of the public said Dr Mutua and Mule were not voters in Mumbuni North and their presence at the polling centre was meant to intimidate or influence voters.

“There are several people who tried to bribe voters early this morning including county government officials and were arrested by members of the public,” Mutua said.

Machakos County Police Commander Monica Kimani said police were yet to receive any formal complaint on voter bribery or assault of any individual, but maintained the law enforcers will not hesitate to take action against any offenders.

The Mumbuni North Ward by-election arose after the death of the former MCA, Gideon Kavuu in 2023.

In Mbeere North, Muturi was captured on camera chasing away an MCA who had donned UDA colours in blatant violation of electoral laws. 

In Nyamira, pro-government political operatives armed with bows and arrows assaulted youths in full glare of security agencies at Metamaiywa over claims they were protecting their votes.

Attack opponents

In Malava, the opposition accused the government of allowing police officers to escort goons to attack opponents. Earlier, the government had withdrawn the security detail of key opposition leaders, including Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya.

Lakezone Ward by-election in Turkana was also marred with bribery claims. Turkana North MP Paul Nabuin accused a senior county official of attempting to influence the election in favour of his preferred candidate.

He claimed the official was bribery voters with Sh5,000 to cast their ballot in favor of a particular candidate.

“This election is not fair,” Nabuin stated. 

Voting had begun early on Thursday, with most polling stations opening on schedule, despite delays caused by network interruptions and logistical challenges. 

Returning Officer John Ngutai Muyekho admitted that some polling stations suffered logistical challenges.

In Magarini, Kilifi North MP Ken Chonga was ejected from Kanagoni Polling Station in Magarini constituency by angry youth who questioned his credentials as the ODM chief agent.

The irate crowd of youths accosted Chonga as he attempted to make his way into the polling place, claiming to be the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Chief Agent.

The youths led by Hassan Salim claimed he was trying to influence voters, although the MP maintained he was checking the voting process as an ODM agent.

“We will not allow politicians from outside Magarini to influence the exercise. It is an opportunity for us to exercise our right to vote for the leader we want,” said Salim.

Report by Ndugu Gachane, Jane Mugambi, Bakari Angela and Stanley Ongwae