VOTER IMPORTATION

The Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) officials in Laikipia District have raised alarm over suspected voter importation in the area.

The officials said the high number of people from outside the region seeking to be registered as voters was suspicious.

According to the Laikipia West IIEC Elections Coordinator Mr Joseph

Wanguhu, most of the new voters were young people, some of who are threatening the registration clerks when interrogated as to why they are opting to register in the area and not where their identification documents indicates.

He said the youth are brought to voting stations in vehicles, saying many of them have been transported to registration centres in Nyahururu town, Muthengera, Ol-Jabet, Ol-Moran, Muhotetu and Karandi areas.

"We have received complaints from our registration clerks that these young people have threatened them for being asked why they were coming to register in large group and we suspect some ulterior motive," he said.

He asked the government through the provincial administration to be alert, saying the matter was serious and requiring thorough investigations.

Speaking at a leaders and voter sensitisation forum in Nyahururu town, Wanguhu noted that most of the areas targeted were mostly populated and hence could not be detected with ease.

He said the IIEC will not condone voter importation adding that security officers have been deployed to ensure IIEC officers were safe.

The officer said more than 58,000 people have been registered, but it was way below the expected 123,000.