The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) meeting with presidential candidates on voter preparedness at a city hotel was temporarily halted after a persistent activist interrupted the proceedings.
The activist identified as Julius Kamau, on Wednesday, June 29,approached the electoral agency chair Wafula Chebukati with a banner and made some demands just as Chebukati was about to invite the candidates to voice their concerns.
Security officers, however, moved in swiftly and whisked him away.
“What I want is freedom,” Kamau was heard shouting as orderlies carried him shoulder high out of the room.
Notably, this is not the first time Kamau has disrupted a meeting called by Chebukati. On May 23, the activist attempted to disrupt the IEBC chairperson’s speech at Bomas of Kenya.
Kamau approached Chebukati and began chanting anti-government slogans, demanding that the country be free of poor governance.
The IEBC is currently receiving concerns from presidential candidates regarding the electoral processes at the Windsor Hotel in Nairobi.
The availability of a complementary system of voter identification is a point of contention for all candidates.
Except for UDA’s William Ruto, who is not present, Azimio’s Raila Odinga, Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah, and Agano’s David Mwaure Waihiga are all present with their running mates.
Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok and UDA Secretary General Veronica Maina stood in for Ruto.
The meeting was called in response to the commission’s intention not to use the manual voter register to identify voters on Election Day if the Kiems kits fail.
