By John Mutiso
Former Sports CS Rashid Echesa has been caught on camera slapping an IEBC official in the Matungu by-election which has just kicked off.This happened as he accused IEBC official Peter Okura of barring their agent to witness the voting.
In a video making rounds on social media, the visibly angry Echesa is seen confronting an election official before stretching his hand and slapping him on the face at the Bulonga polling station in Matungu where he demanded to know why his party’s polling agents were allegedly chased out of a voting centre.
“You were told by who? Our agents are outside the polling centre. You cannot keep our agents outside. Why are you chasing them outside?” Echesa demands to knows and then plants a slap on the polling official.
“Sheria inasema kuwa poll agents must witness the voting!” he was heard shouting as he told off the IEBC agent.
Okura allegedly stopped one of United Democratic Alliance’s agents from entering the polling venue because he did not have a facemask.
The Matungu MP seat fell vacant following the death of holder Justus Murunga on November 14, 2020. The candidates battling it out for the Matungu MP seat include Alex Lanya of UDA, David Were of ODM, Peter Nabulindo of ANC, Christabel Murunga and Eugune Ambwere as independent candidates.
The by-election’s outcome will have a direct bearing on key politicians positioning for the 2022 succession race.
