IEBC officials in Mombasa, Kilifi counties charged with election malpractice

IEBC clerk officials appear before Mombasa Senior Principal Magistrate Francis Kyambia. [File, Standard]

Four Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials in Mombasa and Kilifi counties were Wednesday charged at Shanzu Law Courts with election malpractices and refusal to count votes.

The four were charged with issuance of two extra ballot papers to a voter and failure to report the matter to security officials and refusal to count votes.

They include two presiding officers, Deputy Presiding Officer, and a polling clerk.

Those charged include Dorine Mwinzi Mwanyola (polling clerk), Anwar Kai Samson (Presiding Officer), Nicholas Nyamuya (Presiding Officer), and Sawiya Mtesi (Deputy Presiding Officer).

According to the charges, Mwanyola, a polling clerk, was charged with issuing out two extra voting ballot papers for governor candidate and Member of the Parliament, which was a breach of the official duty.

It was alleged that on August 9, at Shimo La Tewa, Kilifi South Constituency in Kilifi County, Mwanyola issued the extra ballot papers without notifying the security officials.

Anwar Kai Samson, a Presiding Officer at Mtomondoni Primary polling station was accused of issuing two extra ballot papers on Tuesday, August 9, at Shimo La Tewa ward, Kilifi South Constituency in Kilifi County.

Samson was accused that without reasonable cause, he issued out two extra voting ballot papers in breach of the official duty.

He was also accused of failure to prevent the issuance of extra voting ballot papers for governor and Woman Representative seats.

Nicholas Nyamuya being a Presiding Officer and Sawiya Mtesi a Deputy Presiding Officer at Utange Primary polling station jointly and unlawfully failed to count valid ballot papers for Member of Parliament, Member of County Assembly, Senator, and Women Representative seats.

It is alleged that on August 9, Nyamuya and Mtesi declined to count the votes.

Three police officers are set to testify against the officials.

Appearing before Principle Magistrate Yusuf Shikanda, the officials denied the charges and were released on a Sh500,000 bond with an alternative cash bail of Sh300,000.

However, Mwanyola pleaded guilty to the offence of issuing two extra ballot papers. Her case is set for August 15. She was released on similar bail terms as the co-accused.

The accused are also set to appear in court on August 15.