The main political formations yesterday jumped into the arrest of a Venezuelan national at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as the electoral agency, facing many unanswered questions over the incident, refused to respond to media queries.
The incident was a major talking point for politicians allied to Azimio and Kenya Kwanza, with the former castigating the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as the latter defended it. In the process, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati found himself caught up in the political battles between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga on the one hand, and Deputy President William Ruto and his brigade on the other.
Yet, almost becoming the norm, the IEBC did not respond to enquiries seeking clarification on the incident as accusations of the opacity of its preparations for the upcoming polls raise concern just over two weeks to the August 9 General Election.
By the time of going to press, the IEBC had not responded to specific questions sent to them. Instead, the agency, late last evening, issued a statement accusing the police of lying. Mr Chebukati said that contrary to police statement that only one person had been arrested, the security officers also arrested two other individuals who had been working for the commission and had gone to check on their colleague. He said their release was conditional as they will have to appear before the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit on Tuesday.
“The National Police Service (NPS) informed the public that the stickers had been released to the commission, yet the said stickers have, in fact, been confiscated and retained by the OCS, Anti-Terrorism Police Unit, with the implication that the commission is now not able to seamlessly prepare for the elections,” he said.
