IEBC threatens Kanu with sanctions over Kericho rigging claims

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has accused Kanu of making appalling allegations over cases of election malpractices during the Kericho by-election.

In a statement signed by CEO Ezra Chiloba, IEBC termed the allegations by Kanu as false, warning that the commission will not hesitate to invoke sanctions against individuals or parties that are in breach of the Code of Conduct or the Elections Act.

“The Commission is in the process of compiling the report of the by-elections. Any party, candidate or member of the public who has any complaints regarding the conduct of both the Malindi and Kericho by-elections is free to report to the Commission for appropriate action,” read the statement in part.

Chiloba termed Kanu’s allegations as “offensive to the Code of Conduct of Political Parties, which the party is a signatory to, and the Commission would like to draw the party’s attention to the sanctions thereto.”

“The commission will not hesitate to invoke appropriate sanctions against individuals or parties that are clearly in breach of the Code of Conduct or the Elections Act,” stated Chiloba.

The IEBC CEO stated that the commission awaits formal complaint and strict proof from Kanu of its claims of electoral malpractices and impropriety on the part of the Commission in the Kericho by-election, inviting the party to its offices on Monday to shade light on its claims.

“For the record, the commission has not received any complaint whatsoever of either electoral malpractice or misconduct, from the party, as required under the procedures of the Elections Act,” read the statement in part.

“The only concern raised by Kanu on the night of the elections was that the results – which we understood to be provisional results – were coming in too fast. The grievances being played in the media and other public galleries are therefore designed to discredit the Commission and the by-elections.”

The CEO further asserted that the recent by-elections were free and fair – just like the others conducted since March 2013.

“Like the over 37 by-elections conducted post-March 2013, the Kericho by-elections were properly conducted and met the threshold of free and fair elections. The by-elections were monitored and observed by accredited independent observers.”

IEBC refuted claims that Kanu agents were given restricted access, saying the party had agents in all the 623 polling stations and no accredited agent was turned away.

Chiloba noted that the transmission of the results and tallying of the votes at each of the six constituency centres was done in the presence of the party or candidate’s agents and witnessed by independent observers with the results of the physical votes counted recorded in Form 35 and 36 and witnessed by party agents present at the polling stations.

“Any objection to the results is supposed to be recorded on the form. The Commission has no record of such objection. The transmission and projection of the results was done simultaneously to the six constituency tallying centres and the country tallying centre. Party agents were present at all tallying centres.”

IEBC further stated that voter turnout, which is verifiable through the register of voters, Electronic Voter Identification devices, and the Form 35 will be availed on the commission website for anyone to scrutinise.

“It bears noting that none of the Kanu leaders who have been voicing allegations of rigging was at the venue of the county tallying for reasons unknown to the commission. The party and its candidate were represented at the County tallying centre by its Chief Agent Dr.  Cheruiyot.”

IEBC’s response comes hours after Kanu officials’ pronouncement that the March 7 Kericho senatorial by-election was rigged in favour of Jubilee candidate Aaron Cheruiyot.

Speaking during a press conference at Kanu headquarters in Sunday, party chair Gideon Moi said that they had received massive support from voters in Kericho County, but the numbers did not reflect in the final results.

“We were humbled by the massive support we got in Kericho. IEBC was compromised and we are aware the results they announced were tampered with,” said the Baringo Senator.

According to former Kipkelion MP Magerer Langat, Kanu’s candidate Paul Sang garnered 126,493 votes to Cheruiyot’s 38,162, contrary to IEBC’s announcement in favour of Cheruiyot who got 109,358 against Sang’s  56,307 votes.

@benjaminwafula