Four IEBC officials were arrested on Sunday, August 7, after they were discovered holding a closed-door meeting at the home of a parliamentary aspirant in Homa Bay county.
A presiding officer, two deputy presiding officers, and a clerk are among the officials. The commission had assigned the four to oversee Kwabwai and Kanyadoto wards.
According to media reports, county residents learned of the secret meeting and rushed to the politician’s home to disrupt it.
The four election officials were later matched to a nearby police station via frog-matching. However, some election officials on the scene were able to flee the house before being apprehended by the enraged residents.
Witnesses at the scene claimed that IEBC officials were conspiring with some of the candidates to gain an advantage in the Tuesday, August 9 election.
“I was tipped that the IEBC officials were striking a deal with the candidates to ensure that ballot papers are marked and stuffed into ballot boxes in their favour on the election day,” a witness told NTV.
Paul Rioba, the police chief of Ndhiwa sub-county, confirmed that investigations were underway to determine the basis of the discussions. He stated that the matter would be handled properly.
The news comes as IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati and his commissioners have been on a sensitisation campaign, assuring Kenyans of a free, fair, and credible election period.
According to the commission chair, approximately 22.1 million registered voters will exercise their constitutional rights on Tuesday, August 9.
