Chebukati tells off ODM over claims of incomplete voters register
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has told off Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) over claims of incomplete voters register for the Kibra by-election.
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati denied claims by ODM that they had provided an incomplete register and insisted that their list was complete with all names of voters, identification numbers (truncated), polling station numbers and voter registration numbers.
Chebukati said about 118,658 voters are registered in Kibra, contrary to ODM's claims. He added that IEBC was concerned over the “unfounded and untruthful allegations” by ODM that the agency had deleted and at the same time added some names to the Kibra register of voters.
“We sternly caution party officials to cease and desist from deliberately misleading voters and the general (public). The commission is committed to provide a level playing field for all candidates and political parties and will not be intimidated as it endeavors to fulfill its constitutional mandate,” Chebukati said in response to ODM’s threat to mobilise a march to the agency offices should the latter fail to release a complete voter register within 24 hours.
ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna had on Thursday threatened that the party would mobilise its supporters to march to the IEBC offices should the agency fail to release the full register within 24 hours.
Sifuna demanded that IEBC come clear of reports that the voters register had been doctored to favour Jubilee Party’s candidate, McDonald Mariga.
“That the IEBC should come clear on the issue of the deletion of people’s names from the voter register, transfer of voters from a polling station to another and the addition of new voters into the voter register.”
“On October 24, the commission released an incomplete register, making the whole exercise a charade. A complete register must have the full name of a voter, his/her polling station and ID number,” Sifuna demanded.
Chebukati said IEBC could not publicise the personal details of voters due to limitations provided under the right of access to information under Article 35 of the Constitution.
“It is worth noting that further to availing the register of voters, the commission posted the Register of Voters at all polling stations on October 30, a practice that has been adapted by the commission in every election to ensure that no voter is disenfranchised. This practice affords an opportunity for voters who have an issue upon inspection (which is a continuous process) to avail themselves at the constituency office to be assisted in confirming their details ahead of the election,” he stated.
ODM had demanded to know how names of some registered voters were deleted from the official document and others added into the Kibra voter register.
Chebukati clarified that 383 new voters were added to the certified 2017 Register of Voters (333 registered by CVR, 50 transfers into the constituency and one deletion.)
The Kibra MP seat fell vacant following the death of Ken Okoth, who succumbed to cancer on July 26.
The November 7 mini poll has attracted 24 candidates including Mariga of Jubilee Party, ODM’s Imran Okoth, Eliud Owalo and Khamisi Butichi who will be flying the Amani National Congress and Ford Kenya party flags, respectively.
