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Four IEBC officials are being held by the police after they were suspected to engage in election malpractice in Ndiwa Homabay County.
Arrested are a presiding officer of a polling station in Kanyadoto ward, two deputy presiding officers of polling stations in Kanyadoto ward, and a clerk of a polling station in the neighboring Kwabwai ward.
According to Ndiwa Police boss Paul Rioba, the four were arrested at a home in Raita village in Kanyikela ward and then were taken to Ndiwa police station. The suspects were cornered by the residents before the police were called.
According to the witnesses, the four were cornered inside a home and arrested four as others escaped.
“Residents frog-matched the four suspects before they were handed over to police,” residents said.
The residents accused the four of planning a meeting on how they will mark and stuff ballot papers in favor of certain candidates.
Ndhiwa police boss said the poll officials were interrogated and handed over to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission for further action.
“IEBC will take appropriate action against them,” he said.
According to the Elections Offences Act, any election official who colludes with any political party or candidate for purposes of giving an undue advantage to the political party or candidate commits an offense and is liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding one million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both.
