Parties want ‘errant’ poll officers locked out of by-election

 

Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetangula, Tongaren MP Eseli Simiyu and party supporters leave after addressing Journalists in Nakuru on October 5, 2013 where they criticized the court's ruling to nullify Wetangula's election as Bungoma Senator on grounds of irregularities. Parties taking part in the Bungoma Senate by-election want the polls agency to replace all the returning officers adversely mentioned in the ruling. PHOTO/FILE

In Summary
Party representatives want all registered voters turned away during the March 4 polls due to technology failure be allowed to vote.
They are calling for suspension of the Nyumba Kumi security initiative, saying it could be manipulated to rig votes.
The representatives demand adequate security during the campaigns, voting, tallying and final announcement of results.

 By ERICK NGOBILO
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Parties taking part in the Bungoma Senate by-election want the polls agency to replace all the returning officers adversely mentioned in a court ruling that nullified the election of Mr Moses Wetang’ula.

Ford Kenya secretary-general Eseli Simiyu and New Ford Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa said the officers should not be allowed to oversee the by-election set for December 19.

Dr Simiyu said all officers accused of involvement in electoral malpractices in the March 4 elections should be locked out of the mini poll.

“We want all electoral commission officials implicated in the ruling to be charged in court or internal disciplinary action taken against them. They should not participate in any way in the coming by-election,” he said.

NO CONFIDENCE

While nullifying the election of Mr Wetang’ula as Bungoma senator, Mr Justice Francis Gikonyo described some election officials as incompetent and recommended that action be taken against them.

The electoral commission has, however, only replaced the county returning officer and his deputy. All the constituency returning officers have been retained.

Dr Simiyu claimed that most of the returning officers are from the same community.

He said political party representatives had no confidence in the electoral commission.

Said Dr Simiyu: “We lost all confidence in the commission and they need to up their game to reclaim their glory in the coming by-election.”

He was addressing electoral commission officials and representatives of political parties at a Bungoma hotel.

Bungoma regional coordinator Japheth Yego was among the IEBC officials in attendance.

Narc Kenya representative Joseph Dawai urged the electoral commission to be on the look-out for candidates who want to bribe voters.

ODM representative Wafula Buke said: “We demand that considerable improvement be made to ensure the elections are free and fair and reflect the will of the people of Bungoma County.”

BUNGLING OFFICERS

Mr Yego said all the concerns raised would be communicated to Nairobi but added that IEBC was committed to a free and fair election.

Separately Mr Wamalwa said in Webuye Town that the electoral commission officers accused of bungling the March 4 polls should be replaced.

The party representatives further urged the commission to investigate claims of identity cards belonging to voters being bought and scanned.

“We want to know the motive behind the scanning of ID cards and how it will affect the voting and the final outcome,” said Mr Buke.