Six arrested on allegation of illegal transfer of voters
IEBC clerks register residents of Kiamwangi, Nyeri County, as voters on February 3, 2017. Six people were arrested in Garissa on claims of transferring voters to other constituencies illegally. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- OCPD Morriase said the suspects are from Shantaabaq ward in Lagdera and were caught posing as non-governmental organisation workers.
- They were apprehended in Iftin ward in Garissa Town.
Police in Garissa have arrested six people for allegedly transferring voters to other constituencies without their knowledge.
OCPD Aron Morriase said the suspects are from Shantaabaq ward in Lagdera Constituency and were caught posing as non-governmental organisation workers, assisting locals to fill in registration forms.
Mr Morriase alleged that they were trying to get secure more votes for a candidate from their ward.
"We have arrested six people who were posing as employees of non-existent NGO while transferring voters [without their knowledge].
"Because they knew people would not voluntary agree to transfer [their] votes, they opted to deceive them saying they will help them fill in the forms," he told Nation.
They were apprehended in Iftin ward in Garissa Town.
"...they are in our custody awaiting their appearance in court," he added.
The OCPD said police will investigate how the suspects obtained voter registration forms from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
County Election’s Coordinator Saad Nur said they were nabbed filing in the voter transfer forms.
Mr Nur also confirmed that one of suspects is an assistant clerk assigned to Shantaabaq ward.
"We suspect the forms were stolen from the commission but we now leave everything to the police to do their investigation," he said.
