4 Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials have reportedly been frog-marched to police station by angry mob in Ndhiwa for allegedly plotting to participate in electoral irregularities in favor of a certain candidate in Kanyadoto and Kwabwai wards.
It has been established that frustrated residents stumbled the two deputy presiding officers at Kanyadoto ward and a clerk at Kwabwai ward from their respective local homes and frog marched them to Ndhiwa Police Station after getting tipped that the four were devising irregularities in Tuesday election in favor of a candidate eyeing for Ndhiwa parliamentary seat.
According to the Elections Offences Act, any election official who colludes with any political party or candidate for purposes of giving an undue advantage to the political party or candidate commits an offence and is liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding one million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both.
Ndhiwa MP hopeful Michael Agwanda has termed the incident as distateful, subject to the penalties associated with electoral crimes.
“We’re calling on the police to ensure those who escaped are arrested and charged. IEBC officials shouldn’t promote election malpractice,” Agwanda said.
He added that such evolving irregularity activities might undermine the will of the people on Tuesday.
Interface Community Help Desk leader Oloo Gor condemned the incident saying the suspects should be asked to expose the people behind their action.
“Any act of partisanship shouldn’t be allowed in the election especially from IEBC officials. It’s against the IEBC Code of Conduct,”Gor said.
IEBC officials
Ndhiwa Police officers have revealed that they handed the four officials to IEBC for the right action to be taken against them.
The incident came after Homa Bay returning officers Frederick Apopa assured residents of credible elections.
