Chebukati invites DPP to probe anomalies claims

Electoral commission chairman Wafula Chebukati has invited the Director of Public Prosecutions to investigate claims by a group of observers that there were anomalies in the repeat presidential poll in Garissa County.

A conglomeration of civil society groups that monitored the repeat presidential election on Thursday last week accused the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of making errors during vote tallying.

ERRORS

The groups — under the Kura Yangu, Sauti Yangu banner — cited inconsistencies in the register and the number of valid votes cast. It also claimed there were vote addition errors.

The groups claimed Mr Chebukati got his math wrong in the final declaration.

“We invite your office to undertake apt investigations on the allegations to ascertain the veracity of the allegations and subsequently institute criminal prosecution of any of the officials found culpable,” Mr Chebukati says in his letter to DPP Tobiko Keriako, dated November 3.

The IEBC boss particularly noted cases in Garissa Township constituency in Garissa County, where the groups claim some electoral officials tampered with votes at the ASK Showground polling centre, and the Bolargy Primary School polling centre.

PARTISAN

The groups said the officials filed returns they knew were inaccurate and acted in a partisan manner to give undue advantage to a candidate or political party, in violation of the Election Offences Act.

“These allegations, if substantiated, would be in violation of section 6 of the Act,” they said.

Mr Chebukati has asked the commission manager in charge of Investigations and Prosecutions, Mr Crispine Owiye, to liaise with the investigators over the matter.

“I confirm our commitment to cooperate to expedite the investigations,” he said.