IEBC offices moved to GSU staff quarters

The electoral commission offices at the Coast have been moved from the central business district to near State House due to security fears.

South and North Coast regional Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) coordinator Amina Soud confirmed the relocation from Baluchi Complex near Central Police Station to General Service Unit (GSU) staff quarters next to State House.

She said this had been prompted by the volatile nature of politics in the region.

Work stations guarded

“We are now located at GSU headquarters next to State House. It is the safest place.”

Ms Soud said that the 21 IEBC constituencies’ offices in the region would be guarded around the clock to ensure their business is not disrupted.

The coordinator said her agency was working with all stakeholders to bolster its operations.

“We have discussed with the government about our security and we are also working with stakeholders to carry out civic education,” she said.

Last month, a civic education exercise in Kilifi County turned chaotic when a gang set ablaze a vehicle that electoral officials had hired for the event.

However, residents helped put out the fire before it consumed the vehicle.

IEBC officials were educating villagers at a chief’s camp in Chonyi Division on the importance of voting in the General Election when their vehicle was set on fire.

In what appears to be a spirited effort to bar local residents from taking part in coming elections, the rowdy mob set on fire the vehicle IEBC officials travelling in.

Recently, members of the outlawed Mombasa Republic Council were said to have disrupted mock elections held in Malindi, Kilifi County.

However, MRC’s leadership denied the organisation was behind the attack.