By John Mutiso
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced that no one will be allowed to remain around polling stations after voting during the Thursday, November 27, by-elections.
Speaking on Wednesday, November 26, in Kasipul, Homa Bay County, CS Murkomen asked voters to go home immediately after casting their votes.
“I want to ask all the voters in different places where we have by-elections, please exercise your right peacefully, and once you vote, go home.
“There is no business that you are protecting any vote, we will not allow loitering around polling stations in the name of protecting votes or canvassing. Once you finish, wait for the results at home,” said Murkomen.
The Interior CS pointed out that there will be no value for the voters to hang around polling and tallying centres.
“In any case, there is no value in going to loiter around a tallying centre, because elections end in a polling station,” he stated.
Further, Murkomen cautioned individuals planning to bring goons to polling stations, saying they will face the full wrath of the law.
“I must warn everyone, all those who are preparing to bring goons to polling stations, and tallying centres, you will face the full force of the law.
“The national police service is prepared to arrest all goons intending to disrupt peaceful elections in our country,” Murkomen added.
His remarks come after the National Police Service (NPS) cautioned politicians against making incisive utterances ahead of the Thursday by-elections.
NPS Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga, in a statement, asked politicians to desist from making statements that could be interpreted as threatening, defamatory or undermining confidence in state institutions.
Nyaga called on politicians to respect and cooperate with electoral officials during the Thursday by-elections.
“All political leaders are specifically called upon to desist from utterances that are inciteful to violence or bear hatred of whatever form. They should further refrain from making statements that could be interpreted as threatening or defamatory, or that undermine public confidence in our institutions.
“We further ask all political leaders to be respectful and cooperate with the electoral officials so as to deliver a credible and accountable exercise,” Nyaga stated.
Further, Nyaga asked the public to remain calm and go about their daily activities during the Thursday by-elections.
