IEBC summons CS Charles Keter for engaging in active politics

Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter has been summoned to appear before the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for allegedly using state resources in the just concluded Kericho Senatorial by-election.

IEBC wants Keter to appear before it to explain why he involved himself in active politics in the Kericho Senate by-election despite being a public officer. Keter, who was the immediate former Kericho Senator was seen campaigning for the JAP candidate Aaron Cheruiyot who was declared winner in what was a hotly contested and now controversial by-election.

IEBC further says there was evident use of state resources such as government vehicles in the campaigns and instead of remaining apolitical, Keter actively engaged in political campaigning contrary to the Elections Act and the Public Officers Ethics Act.

And in Malindi, IEBC says that on the 4^th of March, police officers stormed the hotel rooms of five electoral staff and illegally searched various commission effects. During the incident at the Rafiki Hotel, at least four police officers searched the rooms of the manager of voter education, voter education officer, north coast regional assistant and two constituency office clerks without a legal search warrant.

The commission also highlighted a number of claims of attempted rigging in the Malindi by-election, chief among them the arrest of ODM Communications Director Phillip Etale for allegedly being in possession of several ID and voters cards.

They also cited an incident in which Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu was ejected from the Maziwani polling centre for allegedly bribing voters and insisting that he was a party agent despite not being accredited for the same.

In another incident, Mwea MP Peter Njuguna Gitau was accosted by Governors Ali Hassan Joho and Amason Jeffa Kingi for allegedly engaging in voter bribery at the Kakuyuni polling centre.

IEBC says investigations into these and other incidents are underway while other cases are already before the courts.

Report by Anne Kiguta