IEBC defends list of new returning officers
The electoral commission has defended its list of 47 county and 290 constituency returning officers after the Opposition claimed it was a plot to rig the polls.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has, since Monday, spent days on Twitter, sharing the list of the new returning officers, who were reshuffled from their 2013 postings, as 30 of them were promoted to the post of county returning officers.
“That was cherry-picking, ignored 14 constituencies in Western Kenya. A national analysis gives (a) totally different picture,” the agency said in a tweet to a user.
The user had asked them to address “issue of rigging plans detected in your posting officials from only one tribe to Western.”
The avalanche of tweets and its consistent response for those asking to look at the official list came a day after the National Super Alliance (Nasa) alleged bias, ethnic profiling and planned rigging of elections.
HOME AREAS
“We in Nasa are, therefore, unable to discern the criteria and logic of IEBC posting members of only one community as returning officers to serve in certain electoral areas, especially the western region,” Mr Musalia Mudavadi, a Nasa principal, said in a statement to newsrooms.
But IEBC Chief Executive Ezra Chiloba disputed the narrative, saying it was guided by the principle that returning officers should not serve in their home areas.
“However, we ensured that we don’t take people too far from their homes. That explains why you see officers from certain communities in particular areas,” Mr Chiloba said.
In the 32 constituencies of the four counties in western Kenya, 15 of the 32 returning officers come from the Rift Valley.
In the deployments, no officer, the IEBC said, was posted to the constituency or county where they served before, or their home constituency or county.
This was to avoid nagging cases where politicians attempt to influence election officials in the regions, the commission argued.
The county managers and returning officers have to report to their new stations by May 20.
THE NAMES
- Grace Kipchirchir Rono-Kakamega
- Sarah Mogati Ogaro-Vihiga
- Bilha Jeruto Kiptugen -Bungoma
- Fredrick Ochieng Apopa -Busia
- Ruth Kulundu -Siaya
- John Lorionokou -Kisumu
- Michael Kipngeno Kosgei -Homa Bay
- Charles Kiprotich Mutai - Migori
- Robert Namulungu-Kisii
- David Kiprono Bett -Nyamira
- George Oyugi -Turkana
- John Muhia Mwangi -West Pokot
- Ben Moseti Misati -Samburu
- David Katitia -Trans Nzoia
- Jactone Nyonje -Uasin Gishu
- Moses Sunkuli -Elgeyo Marakwet
- Catherine Wandabwa -Nandi
- Hussein Gurre Mohamed -Baringo
- Agnes Mutisya -Laikipia
- Silas Rotich -Nakuru
- Annahstacia Kimeu -Narok
- Saadi Noor Odowa -Kajiado
- Yonah Ogalo -Kericho
- William Wambugu -Bomet
- Gideon Rerimoi -Nyandarua
- Aluisia Kimani -Nyeri
- Lempaka Seki -Kirinyaga
- Joseph Mukewa -Murang’a
- Hellen Kahindi -Kiambu
- Daniel Lenarum -Embu
- Arnold Mutwiri- Marsabit
- Solomon Mudanya-Isiolo
- Samuel Gichigi -Meru
- Amos Odhiambo -Tharaka Nithi
- Douglas Njoroge -Garissa
- Patrick Gichohi -Wajir
- David Maro Ade -Mandera
- Nancy Wanjiku Kariuki -Mombasa
- Hussein Amina-Kwale
- Nelly Ilongo -Kilifi
- Mohamed Raka -Tana River
- Ali Mohamed Adan -Lamu
- Festus Mucheke -Taita Taveta
- Gogo Nguma Albert- Kitui
- Nakhanu Wamalwa Joyce- Machakos
- Eisha Omar Mohamed- Makueni
- Joseph Mele Eroo- Nairobi
