Pastor locks out IEBC staff from church

IEBC officials take ballot boxes for Dagoretti North constituency at kilimani primary school to returning officers after counting the votes cast in the constituency on 26 October 2017. [photo/ David gichuru]

Voting was delayed for hours after a pastor locked out election officials from a church gazetted as a polling centre.

The pastor protested that property of the church, designated as Nadirkonyen polling station in Turkana Central, was destroyed in the August 8 elections and he didn't want further damage.

Baptist Church

The polling station that has 396 registered voters remained closed for the better part of the morning.

Pastor Mark Losike of Baptist Church stood his ground insisting that the exercise would not take place inside the church.

An argument ensued with Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials, who said they were not to blame.

“Last time, we experienced huge destruction of the church property and we will not allow you (IEBC) to mount your materials here,” said Pastor Losike.

The push and pull continued until 10am when the pastor gave in to the electoral team.

He however insisted the exercise must be conducted outside the premises.

The region’s IEBC Election Manager George Oyugi defended his team, saying their mandate was to ensure that voting took place.

Centre relocated

Elsewhere, voters who were expecting to cast their votes at Handcraft polling centre were shocked when they woke up to the news that the polling station had been relocated to Moi Gardens Stadium.

The station had to be transferred kilometres away from the town due to threats to IEBC staff, according to officials.

The centre is where area leaders, including Governor Josphat Nanok, are registered as voters.