Anomaly costs polls clerk his job

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By LUCAS BARASA lbarassa@ke.nationmedia.com AND PONCIANO ODONGO newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Monday, September 17  2012 at  22:45

IN SUMMARY

• Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) member Yusuf Nzibo said the clerk was trying to help the party agent to vote at the Ewaso polling station yet he was not registered at the venue.
• The IEBC commissioner also dismissed allegations by TNA candidate Moses Ole Sakuda, who cast his vote at Kimuka Primary School at 11 am, that some presiding officers at Parkasi, Oloiloi and Em Masi favoured his rivals while guiding voters who needed assistance due to illiteracy.
• Mr Sakuda accused the IEBC of not allowing party agents to witness voting by those assisted to vote.

A clerk with the electoral commission and a party agent in Kajiado North were arrested over a voting malpractice as a low voter turnout marked the start of by-elections on Monday.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) member Yusuf Nzibo said the clerk was trying to help the party agent to vote at the Ewaso polling station yet he was not registered at the venue.

Dr Nzibo said the clerk was immediately sacked. The clerk and the party agent were still in custody by the end of the voting, which started at 6.30am at all the 117 polling stations.

“The clerk was attempting to help the party agent to vote at Ewas polling station yet he is not a registered voter. He has since been replaced and the two are in (police) custody,” he said.

The IEBC commissioner also dismissed allegations by TNA candidate Moses Ole Sakuda, who cast his vote at Kimuka Primary School at 11 am, that some presiding officers at Parkasi, Oloiloi and Em Masi favoured his rivals while guiding voters who needed assistance due to illiteracy.

“We have had a few complaints where presiding officers accompanying illiterate voters vote for my rivals, even after the voters indicate they are for Sakuda,” Mr Sakuda said.

Mr Sakuda accused the IEBC of not allowing party agents to witness voting by those assisted to vote. But speaking to journalists at the Kajiado North tallying centre in Ngong, Dr Nzibo said his organisation was yet to verify Mr Sakuda’s allegations.

Dr Nzibo warned that individuals who interfere with elections faced three years in jail or a Sh1 million fine.

Wiper party candidate Solomon Kinyanjui said one of registers at Embulbul where he voted was missing but IEBC quickly rectified the situation. “Apart from the low turnout, all is well. I am sure I will carry the day,” Mr kinyanjui said.

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PNU candidate Antony Keen accused TNA of vote buying at Ongata Rongai Open Air Market, Nakeel Primary school and Bulbul (Ngong) polling stations.

“We have established that one of the parties is buying votes by giving between Sh500 and Sh1000 to people to vote for their candidate,” he said.