Suspected MRC youth disrupt Malindi mock election

By Joylene Sing’oei

Rowdy youth suspected to be linked to Mombasa Republican Council have disrupted a mock election in Malindi.

The youth armed with crude weapons attacked and injured Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) staff and some voters.

The men raided two polling stations at St Andrews primary school and HGM school at Kisumu Ndogo. They also broke the ballot boxes.

At St Andrews, the youth attacked police officers and snatched a gun from one of the officers. Another officer shot in the air scaring the youth away. Police are pursuing the youth who ran way with the gun.

The injured officer, IEBC staff and some voters have been taken to Star Hospital in Malindi for treatment.

An eyewitness said the youth demanded to know why they were voting yet the region has been fighting for secession.

Malindi DC Joshua Nkatha and IEBC coordinator Anastasia Mumbua confirmed the incident. A security meeting is under way.

Voting in the two centres have closed but the exercise is underway in other polling stations.