Campaign poster vandals cautioned
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is working with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to arrest candidates for destroying their rivals’ campaign materials.
Nyeri County IEBC Returning Officer Anastasia Nduku said stern action will be taken against candidates found vandalising campaign materials of other aspirants.
She said IEBC will not tolerate election violence and was liaising with DCI to bring to book candidates said to be behind such vandalism.
The caution comes after the United Democratic Alliance party candidate for Kieni parliamentary seat Njoroge Wainaina alias Chieni protested when his campaign materials valued at Sh2.4 million were destroyed by unknown vandals two weeks ago.
Speaking in Nyeri town on Tuesday, Nduku said she had received Chieni’s complaints but because IEBC does not have investigative powers, only the DCI could help.
“We are well prepared to conduct free and fair elections. By July 9 we will begin to conduct civic education. We urge politicians to conduct peaceful campaigns. We shall not allow them to vandalise their rivals’ campaign materials,” she said.
Chieni had claimed that goons hired by some of his opponents descended on his billboards erected at strategic sites in the constituency and pulled them down while damaging others.
